October 2012 - Association of Marina Industries

19
Legislation &
By Wendy Larimer
AMI supports education programs aimed at making boating
a safer and consequently more fun activity for all participants.
As part of this support we work with the National Safe Boating
Council’s “Wear It” initiative to encourage lifejacket wear,
educating, instead of enforcing, the common sense practice of
wearing a lifejacket while underway. Since marinas are a gateway
for boaters to hit the water, they are also a prime location
to help spread the message that lifejackets should be a part of a
boater’s checklist of items to have before they hit the water.
The “Wear It!” Life Jacket Campaign: Bringing Fun and
Education to Your Marina, Rachel Johnson, National Safe
Boating Council
partnerships
Are you looking for an easy, inexpensive way to share some
safety tips with boaters that visit your marina? The National
Safe Boating Council’s “Wear It!” campaign is a year-round
outreach campaign designed to educate boaters about the
importance of wearing a life jacket at all times while out on
the water. Life jacket wear is one of the most effective and
simple life-saving strategies for safe recreational boating.
We know what you’re thinking – when people hear the word
“life jacket,” they think of the bulky, orange style that no one
wants to wear because it’s just too uncomfortable. “Wear It!”
educates boaters about other types of life jackets that are available,
such as inflatable life jackets for those that are 16 or older
that are a great alternative because they’re lightweight and
unobtrusive. There are even comfortable inherently buoyant
(foam-filled) life jackets that are great for a day cruising out
on the water. As recreational boating professionals, we just
need to introduce these options to boaters.
How do you educate boaters about what types of life jackets
are out there and why it’s so important to wear one while boating?
“Wear It!” provides resources, most of which are free, for
you to reach out to boaters. The “Wear It!” web site, www.Safe-
BoatingCampaign.com, offers public service announcements,
information on how to choose the right life jacket for each boating
activity, and free downloadable logos customized with your
company’s name for you to post around your facility. Beginning
March 2013, it will also offer free handouts, including bro-
chures, posters, and stickers for kids, for you to have available
at your marina. There are also some great for-sale items, such as
signs and banners that can be placed at the put-in site or at the
end of a dock to help deliver the “Wear It!” message.
Recreational water activities can be a fun, safe and enjoyable
time for your family and friends, but when the “Wear It!” message
is ignored, the consequences can be grim. In 2011, drowning
was the reported cause of death in almost three-fourths of
all boating fatalities. Of those, 84 percent were reported as not
wearing their life jackets. That’s why the National Safe Boating
Council wants to help you promote the “Wear It!” theme this
boating season. We encourage the use of this phrase among
all boating safety advocates, as it is a tested, proven message
driving the right behavior by boating enthusiasts.
Do you still have questions on how to use “Wear It!” in your
area? Are you looking for local partners to hold “Wear It!”
safety events at your marina? Would you like to participate
during National Safe Boating Week 2013 – May 18-24? Our
Communications Director would be more than happy to
provide you with additional information, share some ideas
and techniques when talking to boaters, and suggest possible
partnerships in your area. Contact the National Safe Boating
Council at (703) 361-4294 or outreach@safeboatingcouncil.
org to get started today!