66 Proceedings | Vol. 83, No. 1 • All paddlers are, at some point, swimmers. Be prepared for swims and learn to rescue yourself and others when accidents happen. Auxiliary Members who provide AUXPAD’s on- water program are trained through a partnership with the ACA, provide an on-water example of safe boating practices and, when necessary, conduct search and res- cue operations. They also provide expert resources to Coast Guard personnel and other boating safety profes- sionals who may have little or no paddling experience. More advanced ACA courses provide hands-on, on- water boat handling, leadership, and rescue skills train- ing, solidifying the points above in progressively more challenging conditions. As with other types of boats, the combination of formal and informal education along with direct engagement with boaters leads to safer, more enjoyable boating experiences. Search and Rescue In 2025, Auxiliary mem bers reported participating in 25,809 hours of public edu cation; 37,904 hours of vessel examinations; and 29,399 hours of program visitation. These prevention efforts undoubtedly prevented many boating accidents, inju ries, and deaths. In contrast, only 830.4 hours associated with search and rescue missions were reported. However, these few hours had a tremendous impact, saving 181 lives, pro- viding assistance in 263 cases, and protecting nearly $7 million in property. Auxiliary members who con- duct search and rescue operations are trained to Coast Guard standards, developing strong lifesaving abilities. Recreational boating safety is the Auxiliary’s core mis- sion but there can be no doubt that the mission includes both prevention and response. Take Aways A recent rescue highlights a wide range of Auxiliary safety operations and how they contribute to overall safe boating. Auxiliarist Joey Taguding was one of several Auxiliary members working with local boating safety partners to provide security for an open-water swim. Some members of the safety team were stationed at fixed locations while others roved about the swimmers in kay- aks that could safely navigate in the pack and shallow areas inaccessible to power boats. Personnel were tasked with keeping boat traffic out of the swimming area and assisting any swimmers in need. Taguding was notified of a swimmer in distress and holding on to another volunteer’s kayak. He assessed the situation, transferred the subject to his boat, and paddled him to a motorized vessel outside the swimming area. From there, the subject was taken to a nearby dock and transported to the hospital via EMS. The combination of local partners seeking out safety personnel, Auxiliary volunteers as watch standers, paddlecraft operators, and boat crew members—as well as professional rescuers providing EMS support—directly led to a life saved. Not mentioned in this report are the problems that didn’t happen during the event due to the actions of Auxiliary members and other local volunteers. That was the result of solid recreational boating safety programs. The Coast Guard Auxiliary’s core mission of recre- ational boating safety is successfully achieved by engag- ing with boaters, educating them, and when necessary, responding to problems. It’s a challenging mission, made more achievable by working with like-missioned part- ners. And, because of the commitment, hard work, and dedication of those involved, it’s a mission that is almost always successful. Recreational boating safety should be a shared mission for every boater because boating is fun— and safer boating is more fun. About the author: Robin Pope, Ph.D., PA-C, FAWM, is the Director of the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Recreational Boating Safety Outreach Directorate and brings more than four decades of experience in aquatics and boating safety to Auxiliary programs. In fulfillment of his belief that boating is fun, but safer boating is more fun, he brings a combination of professional research skills, medical experience, and a passion for aquatic and boating safety to his work. Endnotes: 1. United States Department of Homeland Security. (2024, September 9). US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://www.dhs. gov/us-coast-guard-auxiliary References: American Canoe Association. (n.d.). Smart Start for Safe Paddling. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://americancanoe.org/smart-start/ American Whitewater. (n.d.). Accident Database. American Whitewater. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://www.americanwhitewater.org/con- tent/Accident/view/ U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. (2025, September). National Recreational Boating Safety Survey. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://uscgboating.org/ statistics/national-recreational-boating-safety-survey.php U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Recreational Boating Safety Directorates. (n.d.). RBS Job One Technical Bulletin: Volume 11, Bulletin 1. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://rbsjobone.cgaux.cloud/tb-v11-b1/ United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. (n.d.). About the Auxiliary. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://cgaux.org/about.php United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Recreational Boating Safety Directorates. (2024, March). RBS: Job One (Vol. 10, Issue 1): Trends in US Recreational Boating Fatalities: Causes, Contributing Factors, and Evidence-Based Steps for Prevention [PDF]. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://americancanoe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RBS-Job-One- Volume-10-Issue-1.pdf United States Coast Guard Historian’s Office. (n.d.). Missions. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://www.history.uscg.mil/home/ Missions United States Department of Homeland Security. (2024, September 9). U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://www.dhs.gov/us- coast-guard-auxiliary
