MIAMI - The Coast Guard encourages boaters to be safe on the water by boating responsibly during the Memorial Day weekend.

Recent and expected weather conditions could create dangerous rip currents and unpredictable hazards in the water. Boaters should take extra precaution this holiday weekend and prepare accordingly.

More than 700 people die every year in America as a result of recreational boating accidents. Many more were injured and millions of dollars worth of property was lost in accidents that probably could have been prevented with the proper training and equipment.

Boaters are reminded of five key potentially life saving tips as they head out for Memorial Day:

1. Always wear a lifejacket. Approximately 90 percent of people who drowned in boating accidents were not wearing a lifejacket.

2. Don’t drink and boat. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.

3. Take a boating safety course. Approximately 70 percent of all fatal accidents occurred on a vessel with an operator that had no formal boating safety instruction.

4. Get a vessel safety inspection. Even if you pay careful attention to safety, dangerous mechanical problems can crop up on the best-maintained boats. That's why the Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters take advantage of the free vessel safety check program every year.

5. File a float plan. A float plan is simply letting a reliable loved one or friend know where you are going, when you are going to be back, and what kind of vessel you have. That person can call the Coast Guard if you don’t return on time and save critical minutes during a search.

Boaters should remember that they are in command, and they may save more than their life by practicing safe boating. They may save the life of someone they love.