HCSO Hosts National Water Safety Month Media Event in Conjunction with Hamilton County Park Rangers and Erlanger Trauma Services

Hamilton County, TN – Hamilton County is known for its many natural amenities, especially the Tennessee River and the many local lakes that make up our beautiful community. With all these amazing waterways right at our doorstep, it is very important to recognize that May has been designated as National Water Safety Month and May 19th – 25th has been designated as National Safe Boating Week.

In accordance with this, the HCSO Marine Patrol Division, in partnership with the Hamilton County Park Rangers Division and Erlanger Trauma Services, will host a press conference on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:00 am to help remind our community of practicing water safety. The press conference will be held at Chester Frost Park at the boat dock located at Shelter #1, just past the Park Administration building as you proceed down Gold Point Circle into the park. A map is below. (Please note the map below does not show current water levels at the park).

According to the United States Coast Guard, Tennessee was ranked 10th in the Nation for boating accidents with (116) incidents in Tennessee (http://uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.php) in 2016. Nationally, drowning was reported as the cause of death in 80 percent of all boating fatalities (four out of five people died from drowning). Of those who died, 83 percent were not wearing life jackets. In 2016, there were 4,463 boating accidents in the United States that ultimately led to (701) fatalities. Of those, (509) were from drowning.

During this time, the HCSO’s Marine One and Two will be on display and reporters will be able to find out firsthand what it’s like to be a Marine Patrol Deputy and their daily duties. Reporters will get to go out on one of the vessels and participate in a boating check (as long as there are boats available on the river at that time to be checked). Marine Patrol and Erlanger personnel will discuss general water safety including pool safety.

After the press conference, any reporters who wish to go out on one of our boats to experience a boat check should allow extra time to participate. Marine Patrol personnel will be on hand and available for interviews.

Several options for B-Roll will also be available. The event will take place rain or shine.

If you have questions, please contact the HCSO Public Information Officer at jlea@hcsheriff.gov.

http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/news/planning-a-national-safe-boating-week-event-we-gotcha-covered/

http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nsbc-wear-it-resource-kit-03272018.pdf