The Tribune

AS it promotes better boat safety habits among Bahamians, the US Coast Guard understands that it's better to get them young. With this in mind, as part of the US Coast Guard's "Safe Boating Campaign" members of the Coast Guard, US Embassy in the Bahamas and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force joined forces, visiting islands throughout the country in an effort to educate youth on proper boat safety. Yesterday, the team visited St Andrew's School to distribute 60 life vests and other educational material among second year students. Lieutenant Commander Brian Betz, US Coast Guard liaison officer, said this is the third boat safety event carried out in the Bahamas, the first in Abaco and Grand Bahama, raising awareness on the issue and encouraging children not only to be safe, but respect the ocean. He said: "We are focused on the younger kids trying to instil those safe practices that they will take with them for life." According to the Safe Boating Campaign's website, the project is a year-round campaign focused on spreading the message of boating safety.