News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2002
OHIOANS URGED TO WEAR LIFE JACKETS WHEN BOATING
National Safe Boating Week Is May 18-24
 COLUMBUS, OH - Boat Smart From The Start: Wear A Life Jacket is the theme of National Safe Boating Week May 18-24, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). State boating officials will offer courtesy safe boat inspections at more than 50 locations across Ohio as part of the national safety campaign.
In the instance of a boating accident, statistics show that a properly worn U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket can save your life, said Jeff Hoedt, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. Nationally, eight out of 10 boating deaths could be avoided by simply wearing a life jacket.
 Ohio law requires all persons who water ski or operate and ride on a personal watercraft to properly wear an approved life jacket at all times. State law also requires children under age ten who are on boats less than 18 feet to wear a life jacket.
As part of the observance of National Safe Boating Week and National Vessel Safety Check Days (June 1-2), the ODNR Division of Watercraft, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons and some local marine patrol units will conduct courtesy boat safety inspections at various times and locations across Ohio.
Recreational boating is enjoyed by more than 3,500,000 Ohioans each year and Ohio ranks eighth nationally with more than 417,000 registered watercraft.
EDITORS NOTE: BELOW IS A SCHEDULE OF MANY OF THESE INSPECTIONS. TIMES AND LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS
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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com
For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Watercraft
(614) 265-6695
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882
Central Ohio
Saturday, May 18
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hoover Reservoir Red Bank Road Boat Ramp
Alum Creek Lake Hollenback Boat Ramp
Alum Creek Lake New Galena Boat Ramp
Alum Creek Lake Chesire Boat Ramp
Alum Creek Lake Howard Boat Ramp
Buckeye Lake North Boat Ramp
Delaware State Park Marina Boat Ramp
Griggs Reservoir Boat Ramp
OShaugnessy Reservoir Home Road Boat Ramp
North-Central Ohio
Saturday, May 18
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Pleasant Hill Lake Launch Ramp
Clear Fork Reservoir Launch Ramp
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Charles Mill Lake
Sunday, May 19
10 a.m. - Noon & Charles Mill Lake
2 p.m. - 4p.m.
South-Central Ohio
Saturday, May 18
10 a.m. - Noon Deer Creek Reservoir East Ramp
Southwest Ohio
Saturday, May 18
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ohio River, Riverside Launch Ramp
9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Ohio River, Schmidt Launch Ramp
10 a.m. - Noon Rocky Fork Lake North Shore Ramp
10 a.m. - Noon Cowan Lake South Shore Marina
9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Buck Creek State Park (CJ Brown Res.) Main Boat Ramp
9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Caesar Creek Lake North Pool Ramp
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. East Fork Lake Tate Ramp
Sunday, May 19
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Buck Creek State Park (CJ Brown Res.) Main Boat Ramp
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. East Fork Lake North Shore Ramp
Southwest Ohio
Friday, May 24
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. East Fork Lake Tate Ramp
Saturday, May 25
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Buck Creek State Park (CJ Brown Res.) Main Boat Ramp
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Caesar Creek Lake North Pool Ramp
Eastern Ohio
Saturday, May 18
10 a.m.- Noon Salt Fork Marina
10 a.m. - Noon Tappan Lake, State Route 250 Ramp
10 a.m. - Noon Muskingum River, McConnelsville Ramp
June 1-2
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sugar Tree Marina, Salt Fork Lake
Southeast Ohio
Saturday, May 18
10 a.m. - Noon Muskingum River (Marietta) Indian Acres Launch Ramp
Northeast Ohio
Saturday, May 18
9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Geneva State Park
9 a.m. - 1 pm. Riverside Yacht Club
10 a.m. - Noon & Atwood Lake, Clendening Lake, Leesville Lake, Tappan Lake
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
10 a.m. - Noon Portage Lakes State Park, West Branch State Park, Berlin Res.
10 a.m. - Noon Lake Milton State Park, Mosquito Creek Lake
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meyers Lake Plaza, Whipple Road, Canton
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Portage Lakes
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mosquito Creek Lake
Sunday, May 19
10 a.m. - Noon & Atwood Lake, Clendening Lake, Leesville Lake, Tappan Lake
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
10 a.m. - Noon Portage Lakes State Park, West Branch State Park, Berlin Res.
10 a.m. - Noon Lake Milton State Park, Mosquito Creek Lake
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Portage Lakes
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lake Milton
Northeast Ohio
Saturday, May 25
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Rocky River Metro Park Launch Ramp
10 a.m. - Noon Portage Lakes State Park, West Branch State Park, Berlin Res.
10 a.m. - Noon Lake Milton State Park, Mosquito Creek Lake
Sunday, May 26
10 a.m. - Noon Portage Lakes State Park, West Branch State Park, Berlin Res.
10 a.m. - Noon Lake Milton State Park, Mosquito Creek Lake
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Vermilion River, Vermilion Power Boats
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ashtabula River, Jacks Marina
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ashtabula River, Ashtabula Recreation Unlimited Marina
Saturday, June 1-2
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Berlin Lake
Northwest Ohio
Saturday, May 18
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, St. Marys Ramp
Sunday, May 19
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Lake Loramie Westbank Boat Ramp
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.. Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, St. Marys Ramp
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cullen Park Boat Ramp, Toledo
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Colley Canal Boat Ramp, Curtice
12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Walbridge Park Boat Ramp, Toledo
12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Mary Jane Thurston State Park Boat Ramp
3 p.m. - 6p.m. Napoleon Boat Ramp, Napoleon
Friday, May 24
4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Cullen Boat Ramp, Toledo
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Rossford Marina, Rossford
Saturday, May 25
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Indian Lake State Park Moundwood Ramp
June 1-2
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Son Rise Marina, Sandusky; Bay Point Marina, Marblehead
Midway Marina, Catawba Island
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