Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Have fun on the water this summer, but play it safe. That’s the message the Nobody’s Waterproof campaign is sending to everyone—especially 18 to 34 year old men.

As you can guess, those are the people who are at highest risk in this state for [boating] fatalities or accidents. Instead of asking those people to come to us, we take it to them. So, we actually have a boat, and an outreach team that’s kind of a peer-to-peer contact group.

Brandi Bradford, state boater education coordinator.

And we go out and have a great time. We play games, we have what we call water safety Jeopardy, and we pass out koozies; we have inflatable life jackets that we give away, waterproof boxes—all kinds of fun stuff to encourage people to be safe and to remind them of boating safety.

Last year the program reached five thousand people with direct, one-on-one contact, and they’re going to do it all again this year. So, keep an eye out for the Nobody’s Waterproof boat when you’re on the water this summer.

It’s bright blue with orange flames on the side of it that says Nobody’s Waterproof, Play it Safe.

We have links to more boater safety information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase hunting, shooting, fishing and boating opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Next time you are on the water, and decide to forgo wearing a life jacket, consider this:

About eighty-five percent of the drowning fatalities, a person is not wearing a life jacket—and that’s huge.

Brandi Bradford, state boater education coordinator, says wearing life jackets can save lives.

The law says that anyone under the age of thirteen must be wearing a life jacket while the boat is underway. We recommend that everyone does.

Boaters have reasons why they don’t like wearing life jackets, but those excuses don’t hold water.

People usually don’t like to wear them because they’re heavy, they’re bulky, they make you hot. You know, it’s a hundred degrees outside in Texas. There are actually new forms of life jackets. We have belt pack inflatables, over the shoulder (they look like little harnesses) inflatables. They’re real lightweight; they won’t mess up your tan, and they don’t get in your way when you’re driving around.

Life jackets are widely available at department and sporting goods stores. Find additional information about life jackets at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase hunting, shooting, fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Before you set foot on a boat this summer, learn the “rules of the road.”

We teach classes. They’re available online. They’re available in person.

Brandi Bradford, state boater education coordinator, says boater education information is even available as a home study course.

It’s required for those aged thirteen to seventeen, but we recommend it for any new boater—or even if you’ve been doing it for twenty years. There’s always something new out there.

With 500-thousand registered boaters in Texas, everyone who spends time on the water benefits when boaters know the rules.

We talk about rules of the road. Which way do you turn if somebody is coming right at you? Do you go right or left? The answer is go right. You might not have known that, and the other person might not know it, is the bigger deal. We teach you about how alcohol affects you on the water; it actually affects you three times more than it does on land. So, one beer on the water equals three on the land. We teach you about proper lighting to use on your boat, proper safety equipment to have on your boat…. And just what to expect when you’re out there.

One piece of safety equipment everyone should keep close is a personal flotation device. We’ll have more on that tomorrow.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…reminding you that June first through eighth is National Fishing and Boating week…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Country Music Star, Kevin Fowler, served as spokesperson for the Nobody’s Waterproof boating safety campaign this summer. And Sunday, the “Wildman” makes an appearance at Parks and Wildlife Expo.

We’re delighted to have Country star, Kevin Fowler, at the Expo this year.

Expo Director, Ernie Gammage.

Well, the reason that Kevin was chosen and agreed to become the spokesperson for Nobody’s Waterproof is that this is a message that needs to reach that younger demographic; folks that are really out partying hardy on the water. And those tend to be his fans, too.

And Kevin Fowler is also among Parks and Wildlife’s demographic.

Kevin is an avid outdoorsman; he hunts, he fishes, he boats, and he’ll be at Expo on Sunday afternoon from eleven to one, signing autographs, talking to his fans. And, he’s got a great new poster featuring him and the Nobody’s Waterproof tag, and you can leave Expo with an autographed one.

Find links to Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, and see the Kevin Fowler poster online at passpottotexas.org.

Bring the family, but leave your doggies at home.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

 TPW EXPO: Kevin Fowler: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

It continues to amaze boating safety educator, Jack Dyess that so many people who boat in Texas think they know the state’s boating laws.

When they are stopped by a water safety enforcement officer for some violation, their first response is “I didn’t know that.” That’s probably true; they didn’t know that…because they don’t know the boating laws.

Dyess says people think that just because they have a license to drive a car, they know everything there is to know about driving a boat.

It’s ridiculous to think that if you know the automobile laws you also know the boating laws…you can’t obey laws that you don’t know anything about.

Texas Parks and Wildlife offers boating safety courses statewide to familiarize everyone with boating laws, navigation rules, docking, anchoring and even handling accidents and emergencies aboard a vessel.

It’s in a classroom, you may take it through the internet, or you can take it through a home study course.

To find a class near you, log on to passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

 Boater Education: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download