Life Jackets Are For Everyone



Promoting the actual wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs) has always been an important challenge of agencies and organizations involved in recreational boating safety.

In the mid-1700s, when the life jacket was first invented, there were not many choices available.

Today, the styles, colors, designs, and models intended for specific uses offer everyone a variety of both selection and protection. Now the PFD industry has produced a complete promotional package of materials, which not only helps further the cause of safety by promoting the wearing of life jackets, but also includes some of the best training materials to educate the boating public.

The PFD Manufacturers Association (PFDMA) has produced and released a high-quality video that highlights the best in life jacket technology and valuable information concerning the importance of wearing life jackets. The video entitled, "Be Smart. Be Safe. Life Jackets Are for Everyone," is available in CD-ROM/DVD and VHS formats. It is perfect for use at boat shows or other exhibit booth venues, boating safety classes, school demonstrations, open houses, and other events.

The PFDMA is the trade association for the manufacturers of personal flotation devices and components, and companies providing services to the PFD industry.

The video production was an industry education initiative to influence consumer attitudes and behavior about wearing PFDs. Funded through a grant from the Aquatic Resources (Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, the video highlights improvements in PFD performance, comfort and the wide range of choices tailored to different on-water activities.

The video features high-energy, upbeat footage, a wide variety of on-water activities and user groups, and is especially well-suited to targeting particular segments of the boating population, such as anglers, hunters, paddlers, and children. It is easily segmented to allow educators to tailor their PFD wear message to specific audiences or educational settings.

The distribution of the new video is being conducted through multiple channels, including the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Coast Guard recreational boating specialists, state boating law administrators, the U.S. Power Squadron and the National Safe Boating Council.

The education program targets the single biggest challenge area in boating safety today: preventing boating fatalities attributable to boaters not wearing life jackets. The most recent boating statistics indicate that nearly 85 percent of boating related drowning victims were not wearing a personal flotation device.

The Coast Guard believes that the majority of the fatalities could have been saved and can be saved if boaters would simply wear a life jacket. The primary goal is to get people to wear life jackets vice just carrying them or storing them onboard their boats.

To order the product directly, visit:
http://www.pfdma.org/library/downloads/documents/be_smart_be_safe_cd_order_form.pdf

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteers who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

The release is available at: http://www.auxpa.org/releases/rbs/071905.html

Contact: Aux. Wayne Spivak
Chief - External Communications
Public Affairs Department
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
http://www.auxpa.org
516-353-9155





Life Jackets Are For Everyone



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