Walton County kicks off National Safe Boating Week events

FREEPORT, Fla. ( WMBB ) — The waterways are getting crowded as the boating season makes its busy season debut.

Walton County officials and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are putting a major emphasis on safety this year.

Florida ranks number one in boating deaths and boating accidents, according to the National Safe Boating Council.

Walton County is taking charge to change that statistic by signing the first National Safe Boating Week proclamation with USCG.

“It’s to remind the public that we want them to have fun on the water and to be safe at the same time and the best way they can do that is wearing your life jacket,” USCG District Captain Doug Ritchie said. “That’s why the county with the Coast Guard installed a life jacket loaner station.”

Any citizen can pull up to Grady Brown Park in Freeport, grab one of forty lifejackets in their size, and use it for the day.

On top of life jackets, the county commissioners expect all locals and visitors to behave on the water.

“The main thing is just slow down and take your time, don’t get impatient. Just like driving in our traffic these days,” William ‘Boots’ McCormick, District 1 commissioner said.

McCormick said a perfect summer on Walton County waterways would mean no fatal accidents and no boating accidents at all.

The Coast Guard says a big focus for Walton County locals is when you go West and you see more traffic.

“Not so much here in the Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay, but the further you get towards Okaloosa County, Crab Island, Santa Rosa Sound, you have a high density of commercial vessels and recreational vessels. You also add to that the issues of personal watercraft which are jet skis and paddle craft,” Ritchie said.

“You go boating to kick back, slow down, relax anyway, just don’t get in a hurry. Be courteous to your swimmers. Be courteous to the other boaters. Make sure that you have proper protection gear. And of course, no boating and drinking,” McCormick said.

National Safe Boating Week runs May 18-24.

The Coast Guard Destin Station will be hosting a safety open house day on May 20 for the public to see the safety enforcement firsthand.

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