Safety 2

Save Our Native Species Inc.
S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club
(A 501 C (3) not for profit organization)

Contact Information:
President
Jerry Skrypzak

Vice President
Ed Kissell

Secretary
Don Tombaugh

Treasurer
Terry Pfeffer

Mail: PO Box 3605
Erie, Pennsylvania 16508

Phone/Fax: 814-453-2270
Email:
sonslakeri@aol.com

Safety---Water safety is a concern of the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club. Our concerns are not only for our members but for the public in general. Over our history we have pursued this goal by providing education to our members at our general membership meetings. Our speakers are experts in their respective fields including the U.S. Coast Guard, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissions Waterways Conservation Officers and others. We have also provided safety equipment in areas where we felt were in need of these devices. This included the purchase and distribution of throw able life rings to the Erie Police Department for distribution to the patrol units that cover the waterfront area. We also supplied life rings to Presque Isle State Park for placement along Presque Isle Bay. We also provided a winch for fallen tree removal on the Park. The S.O.N.S. purchased cold water survival suits and provided them to the Presque Isle Park rangers and the Erie Fire Dept.

The SONS purchased radar unit and marine radios for the PFBC Lake Erie patrol boats.

Life Ring Donated by the SONS

The SONS persuaded the City of Fire Dept. to form a water rescue team composed of fire fighters who would be trained as rescue divers. After several years of planning, training and preparation Mayor Joyce Savocchio gave the program the go ahead. The SONS funded the purchase of dive equipment. We also purchased a step van for the team. Today rescue divers are on duty 24/7. The Erie Fire Department has done a tremendous job forming this Water Rescue team. They are able to respond to a water emergency in less than 5 minutes

Mayor Savocchio inaugurates water rescue team

Water rescue demonstration

The Erie County Sheriff's Scuba team members were experiencing difficulties with traffic interference while responding to water emergencies in their personal vehicles. State law prohibited the scuba team members the use of a "blue" emergency lights such as those used by volunteer fire fighters. The S.O.N.S. were able to persuade local legislators to support an amendment to the Vehicle Code that permitted the use of the lights. Wal-Mart and the S.O.N.S. furnished Blue Emergency Lights to the team members.
Shown left is Senator Jane Earll, Wal Mart employees and a Scuba Team member posing with House Bill 155

Safety