The National Water Safety Congress

Excerpt from U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council magazine by Ms. Cecilia Duer, Executive Director, National Water Safety Congress

Established in 1951 as one of the first non-profit water safety organizations, the National Water Safety Congress is a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting boating and water safety.

Its efforts include:

• publishing the Water Safety Journal, course curriculum for “Cold Water Boot Camp USA,” “Beyond Boot Camp: Rescue, Recover, Re-warm,” and the “Multiple Use Waterway Management Guide;”


• establishing a personal watercraft instructor/cold water immersion/first responder trainer certification program;


• completing a life jacket national wear rate validation study;


• providing grants for boating and water safety projects.

Leadership
The NWSC executive director serves as a member of the USCG’s National Boating Safety Advisory Council, Vice Chair of the Strategic Plan Committee, and liaison to the Towing Safety Advisory Council. The executive director is a board member of the partner organization the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and is also the executive director of the Spirit of America Youth Family and Community Boating Education programs.

Full article is available at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/fall2010.

Subscribe online at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/subscribe.asp.