Are you looking to get more involved in recreational boating safety, but don't know where to begin? The National Safe Boating Council has put together an introductory presentation on its award-winning Wear It! campaign, designed to educate boaters about the importance of life jacket wear at all times while boating.

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

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

3. MESSAGE:
To encourage
all boaters to
“Wear It!”
Your life jacket
could save your
life.

4. 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.

5. 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!

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

7. 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.

8. National Safe Boating Week
serves 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.

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

10. The #1 thing any boater can do:
ALWAYS wear his or her life jacket. Accidents on the
water happen too fast to reach stowed life jackets.

11. Drowning remains the number one cause
of death in recreational boating accidents.

12. 398 lives:
84% of those who drowned
in 2013 were not wearing a life jacket.

13. NO EXCUSES
comfort
and
safety
There are many options including inflatable versions and
life jackets customized for all types of recreation.

14. Proper fit
It’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.

15. The Law and You
Each 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.

16. The Law and You
While there are very few
laws that require adults
to wear life jackets, life
jacket wear is a matter
of survival.
Set a good example for
kids by always
choosing to Wear It!

17. Next generation
of 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. What you
can do:
Use the
resources
available
from the
campaign
to educate, encourage, remind, and highlight
the importance of life jacket wear.

21. 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.

22. YOU
CAN
MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!