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Paddlesports life jacket messaging

  • 1.  Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-08-2021 11:35 AM
    A local City Park lake gets a lot of paddlesports traffic with very little life jacket compliance. The health department and city parks and rec are thinking of putting up a couple of basic signs promoting lifejacket use specifically for paddle sports. Has anybody done something similar and have any designs and or wording they want to share?


    Something along the lines of: "Attention paddlecraft users, as a vessel you are required to carry life jackets and anybody under 13 must wear there's per state law."

    Obviously that's a pretty dry message, anybody do something similar that can jazz it up a little bit?

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    Scott Eveland
    Nebraska Game & Parks Comm
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  • 2.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 08:51 AM
    Paddlers:  When you don't wear a Life Jacket you are risking your life
    Under 13:  State law requires you to have a Life Jacket on

    It's not about just falling off the vessel.  What if someone has a heart attack, stroke, seizure, or passes out from heat stroke, sun stroke, or a million other medical issues.  


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    Glenn Dean
    Connecticut Boating Certificates LLC
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 09:27 AM
      |   view attached
    The USCGA developed this sign which you can download for free
    Sigrid

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    Sigrid Pilgrim
    Illinois Paddling Council
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 09:55 AM


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    Thank you,
    Jim Hawkins
    Boating Safety Education Coordinator / Investigator
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife
    Jim.Hawkins@state.co.us
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 11:09 AM
      |   view attached
    I do not know what the launch site looks like - but here is another idea from the Waukegan Harbor in northern Illinois
    hard to overlook this message - Sigrid

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    Sigrid Pilgrim
    Illinois Paddling Council
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 11:02 AM
    Good morning Scott

    I am including a few designs we created in Arizona. We started putting them out this past summer.

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    Danny Rodriguez
    Boating Law Administer
    Arizona Game and Fish Department
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 12:02 PM
      |   view attached
    Hi Scott -

    Oregon created the attached sign for our paddlers. Hope this helps you.


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    MariAnn McKenzie
    Boating Safety Education Coord.
    Oregon State Marine Board
    503-798-2735
    mariann.mckenzie@oregon.gov
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-09-2021 07:17 PM
      |   view attached
    Hey, here in my area of Florida, we encountered the same issue. I worked with one of the beach PDs to get signage and posted them at a local park and on their Facebook page.  I will try to attach the brochure to this post.

    Thanks,
    Dustin

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    Dustin Lightsey
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 07-16-2021 03:27 PM
    Just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who responded to this.  Got a couple of great signage ideas right down the alley I was looking for (looking at you AZ and CO) as well as some other great ideas to expound upon for some more partnerships in the future!

    I really appreciate all the help!

    Scott

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    Scott Eveland
    Nebraska Game & Parks Comm
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 08-02-2021 11:23 AM
    Scott:

    I have been on vacation and am late to the party.  I wanted to mention this to you and the rest of the group.  The Coast Guard is slowly bringing a paddle sports safety program to life.  We are certifying our volunteer Auxiliary members to engage in on-water education and outreach.  That's another option to consider as we build out the program.  If you are aware of any hot spots, we may have the resources to provide a courtesy patrol there.  During the course of these activities we also give out the "If Found Contact" stickers and other safety materials.  

    Paul

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    Paul Barnard
    8th District RBS Specialist
    US Coast Guard
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 08-03-2021 08:00 AM
    I wonder when we'll start requiring mandatory education for paddlers?

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    Chris Edmonston
    President
    BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 08-04-2021 10:41 AM

    Chris,

    As a State with no mandatory education, Arizona actually has more students completing a NASBLA approved paddlesports course than the powerboat courses.  We are now offering three classes a month all across the State and cannot begin to keep up with demand.   Although putting on a paddlesports course is more labor/staff intensive, we find our instructors are more engaged and having fun in teaching. 

    If we go down the road to mandatory education for paddlers, we will need to find a stable revenue source for the NASBLA membership.  In Arizona, we can only use USCG funds for our paddlesports activities, no funds from our watercraft revenue stream, and this funding source is very limited.  The Paddlesports Committee would love to have you or one of your staff members join our merry band of paddlers to continue this discussion along with other paddlesports issues. 

    Happy Paddling,
    Kim



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    Kim Jackson
    Boating & OHV Safety Education Program Manager
    AZ Game & Fish Dept
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 08-05-2021 02:00 PM
    Kim,
     
    Your state has an AMAZING paddling program, and certainly one to be emulated. For many years, I think the broad boating community has struggled with funding for paddling education. Perhaps registration for paddlecraft could be a part of that funding solution.

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    Chris Edmonston
    President
    BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 08-06-2021 08:29 AM
    Paddlers are not against life jackets, nor are they against training.  As an ACA instructor I run plenty of courses as do my friends.

    What we are against is registration as a revenue stream. 

    Brian Blankinship
    ACA Instructor



    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging

    Posted 08-06-2021 08:49 AM

    Brian:

     

    I am a paddler.  Knowing what I know about the Sportfish Restoration Act funds, I'd like to somehow contribute.  Let me explain why.

     

    When I launch my kayak, I am probably going to do so at an SRA funded launch site.  If I experience an on water emergency, I will probably get help from someone using SRA funded equipment or an officer trained, in part, with SRA funds.  I often see paddlers engaged in unsafe practices, such as paddling with no PFD on board and operating at night with no lights.  Our enforcement teams need to attend these matters. 

     

    Paddlers and paddle craft are consuming an ever increasing amount of our SAR resources.  Paddlers are consuming an ever increasing amount of our law enforcement effort.  Paddlers are consuming an ever increasing footprint at our SRA funded launches.  There is a rapidly growing need for paddle sports education like the kind of education the ACA provides.  The ACA is a beneficiary of the SRA fund.  I have found that when paddlers understand the big picture, they are more than happy to contribute.  When they look at it as a program that they pay into and get back out of, rather than a revenue stream, it doesn't seem so onerous.

     

    Paul Barnard

    Recreational Boating Safety Program Manager

    U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District

    500 Poydras St. Rm 1331

    New Orleans, LA 70130

    504-671-2148

     

    Visit The Coast Guard Boating Safety Website  https://www.uscgboating.org/

     




    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging