San Juan, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard would like to remind the public and boaters in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be safe during Fourth of July celebrations and that flares are to be used for emergencies, not as fireworks.

Flares are essential visual signaling devices that can be used day or night to alert emergency responders and fellow boaters to an emergency situation. Flares are also instrumental in assisting emergency responders to locate those in need of help.

What the public may not realize is that improper use of flares could potentially divert valuable search assets from an actual distress case and put rescuers unnecessarily in harms way while responding to the false alarm. Not only do false alarms tie up assets that could be needed elsewhere, burn up crew hours and fuel, but they can also prevent scheduled operations from taking place.

“Launching a flare just for fun is an irresponsible act, said John Hall, Coast Guard Sector San Juan command duty officer. “Coast Guard response to flares are a life and death situation, we send assets until we can confirm it is a non-distress situation.  Launching a flare during a non-emergency could prevent us from rendering the proper assistance to a real one.”

If boaters plan to use flares for training they should contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041 to inform them of their intentions. Boaters should be prepared to give times, locations and types of flares that will be utilized during the training exercise.

The Coast Guard recommends that boaters properly dispose of old or outdated flares by turning them over to a Coast Guard base, Coast Guard Auxiliary unit and U.S. Power Squadrons Vessel Safety Check Stations. Boaters can also check with their local fire department about the proper disposal of expired flares.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard would like to remind the public and boaters in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be safe during Fourth of July celebrations and that flares are to be used for emergencies, not as fireworks.

Flares are essential visual signaling devices that can be used day or night to alert emergency responders and fellow boaters to an emergency situation. Flares are also instrumental in assisting emergency responders to locate those in need of help.

What the public may not realize is that improper use of flares could potentially divert valuable search assets from an actual distress case and put rescuers unnecessarily in harms way while responding to the false alarm. Not only do false alarms tie up assets that could be needed elsewhere, burn up crew hours and fuel, but they can also prevent scheduled operations from taking place.

“Launching a flare just for fun is an irresponsible act, said John Hall, Coast Guard Sector San Juan command duty officer. “Coast Guard response to flares are a life and death situation, we send assets until we can confirm it is a non-distress situation.  Launching a flare during a non-emergency could prevent us from rendering the proper assistance to a real one.”

If boaters plan to use flares for training they should contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041 to inform them of their intentions. Boaters should be prepared to give times, locations and types of flares that will be utilized during the training exercise.

The Coast Guard recommends that boaters properly dispose of old or outdated flares by turning them over to a Coast Guard base, Coast Guard Auxiliary unit and U.S. Power Squadrons Vessel Safety Check Stations. Boaters can also check with their local fire department about the proper disposal of expired flares.