Recreational boating is one of Florida’s leading outdoor activities with over 44,000 registered boats in Lee County alone. Every year about 700 people die in boating-related accidents in the U.S. 75% are from drowning with 86% of that total not wearing a life jacket.
The U.S.Coast Guard Auxiliary has requested the town of Fort Myers Beach declare May 21- May 27, 2022 as “Safe Boating Week,” which the town council did Monday.
The proclamation urges all citizens to join in learning and practicing safe boating by wearing a life jacket, taking boating education courses, getting a vessel safety check, operating their vessels responsibly, safely, soberly, and obeying Coast Guard regulations established after September 11th related to Homeland Security.