By Maurice Emery
Editor Emeritus

GASBURG, VA – The Lake Gaston Water Safety Council continued its series on water safety last week.
Prior to the council’s meeting, council officials set up their educational trailer for the members and Jack Saunders, council president, announced the trailer also will be on hand for two hours prior to next month’s meeting so members can learn how to set it up.
In a very touching before dinner prayer Tom Royals paid homage to those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech with the following words, “As the water flows over the dam it reminds us of the souls of Virginia Tech flowing into heaven.”
Saunders announced that council is looking for volunteers to help set up and man the educational trailer for the May 19-20 event.
Larry Jolly, president of the Lake Gaston Association, asked the members to attend the Brunswick County budget meetings. It is hoped that a good show of people from the lake will help the county change its proposed budget to allow for $116,000 for weed treatment instead of the $40,000 that is presently in the budget.
After a request from Royals, the council agreed to donate $100 to WZRU public radio.
The meeting was then turned over to Bill Carver of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 93.
Carver presented the third part of a four-part series on boating safety. The series has been a good refresher for members on boating safety.
Carver started off by telling the group that most boating accidents are preventable. A breakdown of accidents shows that 4 percent are due to equipment, 33 pecent are caused by the environment and an amazing 63 percent are caused by human error.
He then went on to highlight ways to help prevent an accident on the lake. They included following the navigational rules; keeping a sharp lookout by all parties on the boat; adjusting your speed for the conditions on the water; and looking before turning – this is especially important for personnel water craft.
Other considerations to help improve boating safety are: being cautious when traveling into the sun glare; never operating a boat or watercraft when you are fatigued or have been drinking alcohol; and being aware of debris in the water.
If you travel to fast in unfamiliar waters, debris and obstructions should be a major consideration.
The group was reminded that 90 percent of boating accidents are drownings. Many of those are a direct result of not using a personal flotation device or using an inadequate or damaged device. Extra attention must be paid to the fitting of personal flotation devices for small children, and they should all be Coast Guard approved.
The law requires one such device for each person on the boat. A throwable cushion is not considered a personal flotation device.
Other safety considerations are to make sure boating safety equipment is up-to-date and in working condition and not overloading a boat. The boat will have a plate on it showing the weight or number people allowed on the boat.
Also, don’t sit on the back of a boat because the fumes from the motor can make you sick. It was noted that if you have an accident stay with the boat, you will be easier to see.
The final part of the series will be presented at next month’s meeting. Guests are welcomed at every meeting.
The Flotilla 93 will be holding an open house on May 12.