PWC Education May Help Save on Insurance Costs
Boating Safely is a boating safety education course which was developed through a joint effort between two volunteer organizations dedicated to teaching boating safety, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadrons. In September 1993, DBW, which provides boating safety education curriculum to California schools, adopted the Boating Safelycourse for use as the high school element of its school curriculum. Along with course materials, each teacher receives an offer of assistance from the USCGA to provide consultation, a guest speaker or even a substitute teacher. Since its adoption, nearly 100,000 high school students have taken the course.
Due to accident statistics and the growing PWC market, DBW identified a need for a unit specifically addressing young PWC operators. So in 1995, Jet Set was born as a supplemental unit to the Boating Safely curriculum.Jet Setaddresses personal watercraft operation and safety issues in a clear and concise format for a young audience. Nearly 70,000 copies have been distributed to high school students.
Developed for the high school student, but used by adult boaters as well, Jet Set is now available to anyone who operates PWC on California waters. If you are interested in obtaining copies of Jet Set for yourself or your club, contact the Education Unit of DBW at (916) 445-2428.
A new high school curriculum is currently being produced. Despite the success ofBoating Safely and Jet Set, there is a need to maintain a fresh and appealing course for the high school audience. The new course will incorporate PWC information with the general boating topics. It’s important for us to convey the message that personal watercraft are boats and must abide by the same rules and regulations that traditional boaters must follow. Schools can look for the new program to be available for Spring 1998. By Phaedra Bota Education Unit
