When you’re working on the water, it all comes down to doing your job safely. Which is why, above all, Sea Tow Captains are our biggest advocates of boating safety. Captain John Bilski, owner of Sea Tow Southern Connecticut<\/a> and the 2021 winner of the Sea Tow Foundation<\/a> Hero Award, took time away from on-water assistance to help us better understand how Sea Tow Captains like him support the mission of the Foundation.<\/p>\n What impact does this award have on you and your team?<\/strong> How important is boating safety?<\/strong> How do you support the Sea Tow Foundation as a Sea Tow owner and captain?<\/strong> Similarly, what is the best way to engage Sea Tow members + boaters in general on boating safety?<\/strong> How can members benefit from Sea Tow Foundation\u2019s educational programs, tools, and resources?<\/strong> What advice would you share with your peers as future award recipients? What influence does this award have?<\/strong> The Sea Tow Foundation<\/a> is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on people like you to help fund its programs that work with boating communities across the country to provide access to education, tools, and resources in order to eliminate preventable boating accidents and deaths. Donate today<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Safety is paramount to everything we do.” When you’re working on the water, it all comes down to doing your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":10383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boating-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nIt’s an honor to be recognized by our peers for advocating boating safety.<\/p>\n
\nSafety is paramount to everything we do. It always comes first and especially is always at the forefront of our minds in every aspect of our job.<\/p>\n
\nI believe that education, awareness, and availability are mission-critical. We have 11 Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Stations<\/a> throughout our area that provide life jackets to anyone who needs them, no questions asked. Our team volunteers to speak at events about safe boating practices and are always a phone call away for boaters that need advice. We also are huge advocates for \u201cif found please call stickers\u201d on all SUPs, kayaks, and non-motorized boats. If they simply blow away and are found adrift in the water or on a beach, it could prevent a search and rescue operation.<\/p>\n
\nThrough email, social media, and obviously just being on the water to remind them that Sea Tow is always available via telephone or a radio call away.<\/p>\n
\nStart by following the Foundation on social media. Awareness is the first step and making boating safety guidelines more accessible will help it become common knowledge to everyone on the water.<\/p>\n
\nFirstly, make connections on the water. Educate members about the Sea Tow Foundation and that it\u2019s a boating safety resource. Sponsor a Life Jacket Loaner Station, use the Sober Skipper clean graffiti stencils, be a steward for safe boating. I’ve engrained safety as rule number 1 in every member of our team. We want everyone to come home safe and enjoy the water responsibly, just as the boating community should.<\/p>\nevery dollar counts<\/strong><\/h4>\n