Boating Safety Day provides hands-on instruction

REDONDO BEACH — Local boaters participated in the Boating Safety Day event at King Harbor on Saturday, June 13 at Moonstone Park. Attendees received hands-on instruction in the proper deployment of U.S. Coast Guard approved Visual Distress Signals and participated in informational exhibits from The King Harbor Boating Foundation (KHBF), Coast Guard Auxiliary, South Bay Fire Extinguisher, ACR/Aratex, Sirius Signal and West Marine.

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted live fire training under the supervision of Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol with support from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Currently, all ocean boaters are required by law to carry a minimum of three current Visual Distress Signals on their boats for use in case of an emergency. Latest estimates show that over 90 percent of all boaters have never activated a handheld signal or smoke flare, or fired an aerial flare, as it is illegal to do so in a nonemergency situation. This unique event provides boaters with the practical experience of proper deployment in a safe controlled environment.

Representatives of South Bay Fire Extinguisher were on hand to demonstrate the proper technique for activating and discharging marine fire extinguishers in a controlled demonstration. The ACR/Aratex representative displayed its current line of EPRIB’s, ditch bags, PLB’s and the companies’ newest products, Aurora Handheld signal and smoke flares. West Marine showed off the latest in inflatable life vests, while Sirius Signal demonstrated the first U.S. Coast Guard approved SOS Distress Light that can be carried as a replacement for flares and flare guns.

The KHBF collected over 150 expired flares (some dating back to 1973) and turned these over to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Station #111 in Marina del Rey for proper disposal.

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