NEW YORK (AP) — The Coast Guard is asking people to label their kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards with their names and phone numbers.

Searches for people in distress are triggered when abandoned paddlecraft are found floating in the water. Sometimes, it turns out they were not properly stored.

The Coast Guard said its units in New York City's tri-state area have responded to more than 20 cases of adrift paddlecraft this year.

If there's a name and number visible, searchers can quickly reach out to owners to find out if there's an emergency.

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