Coast Guard stresses boating safety ahead of San Francisco Fleet Week

As thousands of people prepare to head to San Francisco's waterfront and onto the Bay for Fleet Week, the U.S. Coast Guard is reminding boaters that the celebration comes with serious safety risks.Coast Guard crews will patrol San Francisco Bay, conducting safety checks, enforcing restricted areas and standing ready to respond to emergencies.For Coast Guard crews who regularly conduct search-and-rescue operations on the bay, the dangers are familiar."On the bay, in the river, if you're on the water in any type of boat, there's always a danger there," said Jacob Whitlock of the Coast Guard.Whitlock will be among the Coast Guard personnel conducting safety checks during Fleet Week. Crews will make sure boaters have required safety equipment, including life jackets and sound-producing devices.Lt. Max Holloway said the San Francisco sector is one of the Coast Guard's busiest for search-and-rescue operations, in part because conditions can change rapidly."The conditions have something to do