For Immediate Release							May
20, 2005

Game Wardens Prepare for National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, 2005
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine Game Wardens are preparing for the 2005 
National
Safe Boating Week which runs from May 21 through May 27, 2005. During 
this
time, organizations and agencies across the nation that are tasked with
keeping boating safe make efforts to increase awareness and improve
education regarding boating safety.

Yesterday, Thursday, May 19th all of Maine's Game Wardens were briefed 
and
trained on this year's safe boating campaign theme. This year, every 
Maine
Game Warden will be asked to attend an elementary school and make a
presentation to students on the importance of wearing a personal 
flotation
device (PFD) or lifejacket.

Colonel Thomas Santaguida, Chief of Maine's Warden Service stated that
"Children are more easily taught to pick up a safety habit such as 
wearing a
PFD in comparison to people in their 30's or 40's. If we can teach 
children
to wear their life saving device, we can keep boating safe and save 
lives."

In addition to routine patrols throughout the summer of 2005, Game 
Wardens
will be conducting high profile law enforcement boating patrols in key 
areas
around the state such as the Sebago Lake - Long Lake region.

The Warden Service will be conducting a press conference regarding 
boating
safety and law enforcement just prior to the July 4th weekend, which
traditionally kicks off the Maine boating season. 

Wearing a life jacket is just one part of boating safety, and all 
boaters
should follow these simple do's and don'ts of boating safety.

		*DO wear a life jacket. They Float. You Don't. 
		*DON'T mix alcohol and boating. 
		*DO observe the nautical rules-of-the-road. 
		*DON'T stand in a small boat. 
		*DO check the weather forecast before getting underway. 
		*DON'T overload your boat. 
		*DO tell someone where you are going and when you will be
back.

	These suggestions are also a constant reminder of one very important
thing in regards to boating safety, and that is using common sense. The
waterways offer an open invitation to all types of boating. A boater 
should
be aware of the outcome of their actions. Accidents result from a chain 
of
circumstances or behavior which can be easily avoided. Remember to 
follow
the above boating do's and don'ts and take a boating safety course. 

	For more information or brochures pertaining to boating safety,
please call the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Recreational
Safety Division at 207-287-5220.
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