Commissioners proclaim National Nurses Week, Nursing Home Week and National Safe Boating Week; local boating classes announced

The Commissioners of St. Mary's County recognized National Nurses Week and National Nursing Home Week and proclaimed May 20–26, 2017 National Safe Boating Week during their May 23 meeting.

Representatives of Saint Mary's Nursing Center accepted the nursing proclamations; center administrator Annette Hodges identified staff awardees and noted the facility received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Saint Mary's Nursing Center is a 5 star facility," Hodges said, noting the rating reflects staffing and quality measures.

The board also presented a proclamation to members of the Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron recognizing their 60-plus years of boating education in Southern Maryland and national safe-boating statistics referenced in the proclamation: commissioners read that an average of about 700 people die each year in U.S. boating-related accidents, and that life jackets prevent many drownings.

Members of the squadron used the appearance to announce a county boating course scheduled for May 30–31 and the following Tuesday at the old Taylor Gas building on Great Mills Road (the squadron described use of that showroom as their classroom). The presenters encouraged life-jacket use and clarified that inflatable life jackets count under enforcement only if worn, not merely carried. One squadron member described the course as covering required education and "good seamanship handling skills," including anchoring and knot-tying.

There was no formal vote required for the proclamations; the items were presented as recognitions and public acknowledgements.