• DO NOT DISCHARGE FLARES AS FIREWORKS OR COMMUNNICATE FALSE DISTRESS MESSAGES
• MARINERS SHOULD HAVE A MARINE VHF RADIO TO CONTACT THE COAST GUARD ON CHANNEL 16 IN AN EMERGENCY.
• Boat owners/operators are responsible for ensuring everyone onboard understands that Channel 16 is an emergency channel, equivalent to 911 for phone lines.
• Owners/operators should advise children that the radio is not a toy, and should be used for emergencies only.
• The word "mayday" should only be used when there is an actual emergency.  It is like yelling "fire", only with more severe and costly consequences.
• It is unlawful for boaters to use channel 16 to conduct radio checks.
• Boaters who need to hail the Coast Guard for non-emergencies can contact the local station on channel 16 and request to use another channel to communicate.
• It is a violation of state and federal law to communicate false distress signals to the Coast Guard.  This includes inappropriate mayday calls or otherwise hailing the Coast Guard when no emergency actually exists.
• False distress calls and hoax mayday calls account for roughly half of Sector San Francisco cases.  This translates to an estimated $3.2 million of taxpayer money, and an estimated 1,588 hours being wasted in the bay area for 2008 year-to-date, and tying up emergency responders for actual emergencies.  These estimates do not include costs from local partner agencies.
• Under Section 14 of the United States Code, an individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is;
• Guilty of a class "D" felony;
• Subject to up to six years in prison
• Subject to civil penalty of not more than $5,000; and
• Liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual's action.
• Under the California Health & Safety Code, Section 12684 it is unlawful for any person to use or discharge any registered emergency signaling device in any manner other than that permitted by the instructions for use.
• DO NOT DISCHARGE FIREWORKS ON A BOAT
• Under the California Health & Safety Code, Section 12679 it is unlawful for any person to store, sell, or discharge any type of fireworks within 100 feet of a location where gasoline or any other flammable liquids are stored or dispensed.
• All city and county laws regarding the possession and use of fireworks are applicable on the waters within that city or county.
• BOATERS SHOULD KEEP VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALSON THEIR BOAT
• Visual distress signals will aid search assets in locating them should an emergency arise.
• Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S.C.G. approved visual distress signals.
• They are marked with an expiration date. Expired signals may be carried as extra equipment, but can not be counted toward meeting the visual distress signal requirement, since they may be unreliable.
•  If they are expired, take them to your local fire department or Coast Guard unit.
• PEOPLE ON OR NEAR THE WATER SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLARES AND FIREWORKS
• Fireworks generally rise and explode upon their apex.
• Flares generally energize upon their apex, and then drop slowly. Most consumer flares are red in color.
• BOATERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD) FOR EACH PERSON ONBOARD. 
• The PFD should be sized appropriately to the individual (each child has a child-size device, and each adult has an adult-size device). 
• Though not required, it is highly recommended that all persons onboard wear their life vest or other flotation device at all times. 
• California law requires that all children 11 years and younger wear a PFD at all times on any vessel 26-feet in length or less.
• Boat US has a lifejacket loaner program for kids.  Check http://www.boatus.com/ for details.
• BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS IS DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL. 
• Operators who jeopardize the lives of those on the water can be subject to criminal charges.  The Coast Guard, along with all partner law enforcement agencies will be on the lookout for those boating under the influence.
• Section 655 of the California Harbor & Navigation Code defines boating under the influence as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher for recreational vessels, and a BAC of 0.04% or higher for all other vessel.
• A person under 21 years of age is considered boating under the influence if they have 0.01% or higher BAC
• Depending on how many times an individual has been convicted of boating under the influence, and depending on the severity of any incidents or accidents that may arise as a result of a person boating under the influence, charges range from misdemeanors to felonies and can include jail time and civil penalties.
• BOATERS SHOULD CHECK THE LOCAL FORECAST PRIOR TO GETTING UNDERWAY.
• Mariners should be aware of current and predicted forecasts for the period and location for which they will be operating.

TO GET CURRENT WEATHER FORECASTS- http://www.weather.gov/

FOR ALL REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SAFETY DEVICES- http://www.uscgboating.org/ or http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/statelaws/California.html#PFDVISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS