GREAT LAKES REGION -- The following is a message from the Coast Guard:

In preparation for the Fourth of July weekend, the Ninth Coast Guard District reminds boaters to take the proper precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend on the water.

"Across the Great Lakes, we're seeing a 35% increase in fatalities on the water this year, as compared to previous years," said Rear Adm. Mike Parks, commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District.  "Although it's important that people enjoy America's waterways, what's more important is they do it safely.  So, please be safe on and near the water!"

The Coast Guard offers the following guidance for safe recreational boating.

Before leaving port to enjoy evening fireworks, identify the location of any established Coast Guard safety zones and stay well outside zone boundaries.  Safety zones are established to protect boaters from falling debris, which may or may not be burning.

Ensure the vessel's navigational lighting and sound signals are working properly.  Pack spare bulbs as a precaution.  Before leaving the dock, provide passengers with an overview of onboard safety equipment and its intended use.

Do not launch or use fireworks on board a vessel.  Fireworks can be mistaken as a sign of distress, needlessly attracting Coast Guard and other rescue resources.

Life jackets save lives.  Drowning is the leading cause of death in boating-related mishaps.  And, most boating fatalities are the result of unexpected falls overboard, either while a vessel is underway or drifting.  Of those who drown, 90 percent were not wearing a life jacket.  Wearing a life jacket helps ensure a boater stays afloat so they can either self-rescue or be rescued by other boaters in the area.

"An adult can drown in 60 seconds, while a child can drown in as little as 20 seconds.  Wearing a life jacket is insurance against becoming a fatality statistic.  A life jacket buys the time necessary for rescue," said Frank Jennings, Jr., the Coast Guard's Ninth District recreational boating safety program manager. 

The Coast Guard recommends that you wear a life jacket at all times when boating.  And, many states require children to wear life jackets at all times while underway.  It is much more difficult to locate, access or don a life jacket after an accident or fall overboard has occurred. Federal and state safe boating laws require that all recreational vessels carry one U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket, size and type to fit, for each person aboard.  Recently, a man and his dog survived for three hours in the water after their boat sank in Lake St. Clair. Both the man and his pet were wearing life jackets.  In addition, recreational vessels 16-feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry one U.S. Coast Guard-approved throwable flotation device, such as a life ring.

Boaters and their guests should always wear a life jacket when swimming from a boat.  Each year the Coast Guard responds to several incidents involving unanchored boats drifting away from occupants who were swimming and not wearing a life jacket.  Without the benefit of wearing a life jacket, there is little hope of survival once the boat drifts away.

More information on life jackets can be found HERE.

All mariners are encouraged to invest in a VHF-FM marine-band radio as their primary means of communication on the water. VHF-FM marine-band radios are far more reliable than cells phones in the marine environment.  VHF-FM Channel 16, the international hailing and distress channel, is monitored by the Coast Guard and state marine patrols around the clock.  In addition, distress calls broadcast over VHF-FM Channel 16 will be heard by all mariners in the vicinity. Urgent safety information and weather reports for boaters are also broadcast over marine band radio channels.

Float plans are another resource that can be used to locate overdue or missing boaters. These can be as simple as a note placed under your car's windshield wiper or conversation with a loved one staying ashore and are actions completed prior to getting underway. Plans should explain the planned destination or route and also what time you are expected to return. These should be left with someone on shore so that in the event you don’t return, that person can notify the proper authorities.

Information on how to obtain a blank float plan can be found HERE.

All mariners should be aware of the dangers associated with Boating Under the Influence (BUI).  BUI is just as dangerous as drinking and driving on the road.  Alcohol use is a primary contributing factor in 17 percent of all recreational boating fatalities. People are actually more likely to become impaired while on the water as opposed to land.  Stressors in the marine environment, such as motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray, enhance the effects of impairment on the water.

The penalties for BUI can include civil , revocation of operator privileges and serious jail terms.

The Coast Guard instead recommends boaters pack plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated AND alert, while underway. 

More information on Boating under the Influence can be found HERE.