Flares are ‘excellent tools for saving lives’
08/12/2020
Flares are an excellent tool for saving lives – as an incident near Lake Worth Inlet, at Palm Beach, Florida demonstrated.
Two men launched three red flares after their 18-foot boat capsized one evening in November.
A Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet 45-foot response boat-medium crew responded and the men were brought to Blue Heron Marina uninjured.
Petty Officer 2nd Class William Griffin, coxswain at Station Lake Worth Inlet, says, “Having working safety equipment and effective means of communication aided the rescue personnel to respond quicker and save lives.
“Flares are an excellent tool to use especially in the evening to help alert nearby vessels and rescue assets of your location.”
Boaters are urged to check the weather before going out, tell someone where they are going and when they will be back, wear a life jacket and ensure their safety gear is up-to-date.
