On-Line ‘Toolbox’ Helps Anglers Stay Safe On The Water

According to a recent BoatU.S. survey of anglers, 83 percent acknowledge that boating safety is a major concern and that the safety issues of greatest importance are the effects of alcohol on boat operators, the use of life jackets, reckless/careless boat operation and speeding.

To help anglers improve their boating safety, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and BoatU.S. Angler offer a free online “Boater’s Toolbox” at http://www.BoatUSAngler.com.

The Web-based learning tool can help anglers who own fishing boats learn important safety matters or brush up on their knowledge. Toolbox topics include Boating Under the Influence, Life Jackets, Rules of the Road, Hypothermia, Carbon Monoxide, Safe and Clean Fueling and more.

To help make learning easier, the teaching tool uses animation to illustrate hard-to-grasp concepts such as right of way and rules of the road.

“The Toolbox puts all of the essential safety information in one place so anglers don’t have to chase it down on half a dozen different Web sites,” said Mike Pellerin, director of the BoatU.S.Angler program.

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research organization primarily funded by the voluntary contributions of the 670,000 members of BoatU.S, the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters.