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Coast Guard urges public to enjoy summer safely

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 28, 2010 12:50 PM

By Globe Staff

The US Coast Guard today urged swimmers and boaters to be prepared before they start enjoying the Memorial Day weekend and the official arrival of summer.

In a statement, the Coast Guard said 32 people have lost their lives in the First District since Jan. 1, an unusually high number for the district that covers all of New England, eastern New York and northern New Jersey.

"We want everyone to enjoy spending time on the water, especially now that the weather is getting warmer,” Al Johnson, the First Coast Guard District’s recreational boating safety specialist, said in a statement. "But the sudden shock of cold water can still instantly immobilize the most competent swimmer, making a life jacket essential for survival.''

"Know the risks and be prepared," he said.

This week, a 13-year-old boy drowned in the Merrimack River this week and a Lynn woman was swept to her death off Plum Island.

The Coast Guard urged boaters not to drink alcohol, for canoeists and kayakers to wear life jackets, and for swimmers to be aware of how the sea can change suddenly.

More information is available at the First District website.