The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) Family Support Network initiative has the potential for reducing lives lost and serious injuries by assisting recreational vessel accident victims and survivors to organize and become a powerful voluntary boating safety coalition or network, able to raise awareness of the negative consequences boat accidents have and, consequently, create a boating safety awareness culture. The stories they have to tell are compelling; the awareness of safe boating practices from their perspective is much different after an accident. Unfortunately, there are many more created every day. There is not a better messenger, who will stay on message, than an injured victim or family member who has lost a loved one. The NSBC hosted the first organizational meeting to streamline the NASBLA (with their total support) pre-existing Family Support Network and its Discussion Page, allowing the NSBC to use its national recognition and established position in the boating safety community to facilitate a central point of contact for those who are left behind or have survived boating accidents. The discussion, attended by 23 people including 6 victims, resulted in a consensus to organize the efforts of numerous foundations into a centralized network. The single most important part of the NSBC program would be to maintain a portal to respond timely to people, including Emergency Responders, looking for information, as well as provide an opportunity for offering guidance and involvement in education and awareness, listening to the new victim/survivor, and then formulating a plan based on the elements of the tragedy that would specifically address the circumstance.

1. FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
March 29, 2015
Sandestin, Florida
Moderated by the
National Safe Boating Council
in partnership with the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

2. PARTNERING WITH VICTIMS
Focus: Serious Injury and Fatal
Recreational Vessel Boating Accident
Victims and Survivor Assistance
History: IBWSS March 7, 2003
Fred Messmann
NV Department of Wildlife
Nita Boles
Coalition of Parents and Families

3. AGENDA
• Welcome and Introductions
• Background
• Organizations
• Goal
• Resources
• Challenges
• Boating Safety Issues
• Next Steps

4. INTRODUCTIONS

5. INTRODUCTIONS

6. INTRODUCTIONS

7. INTRODUCTIONS

8. RESOURCES

9. GOAL
Reduce recreational vessel serious injuries
and lives lost by assisting accident victims and
survivors to organize into a powerful boating
safety network able to help each other, raise
awareness, and create a boating safety
culture.
9

10. The single most important part would be
listening to the victim/survivor and then
formulating a plan based on the elements of
the tragedy that would specifically address the
circumstance.

11. VICTIMS – SURVIVORS
The stories they tell are compelling.
There is not a better messenger.

12. ORGANIZATIONS
NASBLA: Law enforcement, boating
education, Model Acts, Regulatory and
Legislative Contacts
NSBC: Awareness, Education and Training,
Media and Communications
USCG: National Data, non-profit funding for
campaigns, National Boating Safety Advisory
Council
NTSB: Accident investigations and
recommendations to improve safety

13. ORGANIZATIONS, cont.
SOCIAL MEDIA
PROJECTS
FOUNDATIONS
NETWORK

14. WHY
• So you don’t have to start from scratch to
learn all the ins and outs.
• You are not alone. Unfortunately, there are
new recreational boating victims daily.
• You can be more effective through
collaborative outreach efforts.

15. WHO
• Families, friends, officers and others can offer
support, resources, information and
networking
• Refer grief counseling options
• Stay in touch with postings of upcoming
volunteer-friendly events
• Meet with the family and help them articulate
their short term and long range reachable
goals
• Local Boating Safety Coalitions; Safe Kids
Coalitions; Hospital Community Outreach

16. MEDIA
• Develop relationships with organizations who
have access to the media so you can supply a
quote for a Press Release or be in a PSA with
your story or message
• Never miss an opportunity to suggest people
take a Boating Safety class

17. EDUCATION COURSES
• Boaters and family members who don’t boat
should take a class room Boating Education
Course approved by NASBLA
• Helps understand the complexity
• Develops camaraderie with experienced and new
boaters
• You learn and understand better by being able
to ask questions
• US Power Squadron, Coast Guard Auxiliary,
State and Private

18. WHAT
Be a resource for:
• Families of victims
• Marine enforcement officers
• EMS, Medical Personnel
• Help the family avoid becoming the victim of
exploitation
• Have boating professionals help victims and
survivors focus their efforts

19. HOW
• Maintain a portal to respond timely to people
looking for information
• Provide an opportunity for offering guidance
and involvement in education and awareness
• Include persons who have limited English
proficiency
• Training for local, state and federal EMS and
law enforcement programs with uniform
messaging
• Links to regulators or lawmakers

20. CHALLENGES: CAUTIONS
• Help the family avoid becoming the victim of
exploitation
• The decision by the family to become involved
in any lawsuit must be kept separate from any
boating safety activity the family pursues
• Assist the new “activist” in keeping their
message focused

21. CHALLENGES:
FUNDING/COSTSCOST INCOME
Travel (annual meeting) Membership
Website Development Sponsors
Website Maintenance Donations
Phone/Conference Call Dues
Training (leadership and/or instructors)
• Reach out to industry to sponsor or assist with
support
• Network may consider ways they may be able to
support similar to how Mothers Against Drunk
Driving is funded through donations or dues from
Foundations

22. BOATING SAFETY ISSUES
• Propeller Injuries
• Life Jacket Wear
• Alcohol
• Carbon Monoxide
• Electric Shock Drowning
• Navigation Rules
• Government
• Others?

23. NEXT STEPS
• The NSBC will provide a forum at each
IBWSS to highlight key successes, conduct
training, discuss gaps
• Open Discussion

24. THANK YOU!
Fred Messmann
National Safe Boating Council
deputy@safeboatingcouncil.org
(703) 789-2730