The Wear It! campaign encourages, reminds, and highlights the importance of life jacket wear and provides resources for educators.

PURPOSE:To educate boaters about safe and responsible boating, particularly to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water.

MESSAGE:To encourage all boaters to “Wear It!”

Your life jacket could save your life.

Wear It! reminds everyone why it’s not enough to simply carry life jackets; you have to wear it.

Accidents on the water happen too fast to reach stowed life jackets.

Wear It! highlights that today’s life jackets are more comfortable, less restrictive, and come in a variety of customized styles and colors. There’s a life jacket for everyone!

Wear It! provides boating safety educators with resources that educate boaters.

National Safe Boating Week takes place each year during the first full week before the Memorial Day Weekend.For 2015, NSBW is May 16 – 22.

National Safe Boating Weekserves as the kick off for the campaign and the traditional boating season. It serves to remind boaters that even

the most experienced

boaters can fall victim to boating accidents.

The GOAL of National Safe Boating Weekis to heighten awareness among recreational boaters of the importance of ALWAYS wearing a life jacket.

ALWAYS wear his or her life jacket. Accidents on the

water happen too fast to reach stowed life jackets.

The #1 thing any boater can do:

Drowning remains the number one cause

of death in recreational boating accidents.

398 lives:84% of those who drowned

in 2013 were not wearing a life jacket.

There are many options including inflatable versions and life jackets customized for all types of recreation.

NO EXCUSEScomfort

andsafety

Proper fitIt’s important to choose a properly-fitted life jacket. Check the label on the inside of the life jacket for

size and weight and make sure it’s USCG-approved.

The Law and YouEach state has different laws that apply to kids and certain water activities. A federal law is also in place that requires kids under 13 to wear a life jacket.

Learn more about your state’s laws at NASBLA.org.

The Law and YouWhile there are very few laws that require adultsto wear life jackets, life jacket wear is a matter

of survival.

Set a good example for kids by always

choosing to Wear It!

Next generationof boaters:

When these kids grow up, they will provide an example to the next generation of boaters. It serves as a constant reminder that everyone

should always wear a life jacket.

Life jackets for kids:Life jackets meant for adults do not work for children. Proper fit of a life jacket means it fits snugly, it’s buckled or zipped up, and is appropriate for the person’s weight.

Resources for Kids:The Boating Safety “Sidekicks” provide activities geared toward boating safety with an emphasis on life jacket wear. The “Sidekicks” series is a great way to get kids

involved in boating safety.

What you can do:Use the resources available from the campaign to educate, encourage, remind, and highlight

the importance of life jacket wear.

Wear It!FREE Posters, logos, presentations, and best practices provide a consistent brand that brings a greater profile to local efforts. Wear It! is a message with international coverage and immediate recognition.

YOUCAN

MAKE ADIFFERENCE!