Canadians Initiate World Record Life Jacket Inflation

TORONTO, April 28 /CNW/ - On May 20, 2010 at 11 AM EDT, The Canadian Safe Boating Council and SmartBoater.ca invite the media, boating safety professionals, the boating community and the general public to gather to establish a World's Record Life Jacket Inflation. Throughout North America, participants will simultaneously inflate their life jackets to set an unprecedented world record. Two of the biggest events in Canada will take place in Toronto and Vancouver.

To officially launch Safe Boating Awareness Week, which runs from May 22-28 this year, The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) in the United States will be working with their respective members and affiliated organizations to execute this world record life jacket inflation event.

This timing positions the campaign just before the May 24th weekend, the "unofficial start of summer", when the water is dangerously cold and, historically, a large number of boating incidents occur.

"We're thrilled to be working with the National Safe Boating Council on such a worth-while, educational endeavour," remarks Bob Minielly, Chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council. "This World Record Event will not only help to educate boaters about inflatable life jackets, but will help to mirror the overall goals and vision of the North American Safe Boating Campaign."

Although the event is dramatic and visual, the purpose is simply to raise public awareness of the importance of life jacket wear and general boating safety practices. Local inflations will be led by marine enforcement officers and boating safety educators who will engage politicians and invite the media and the public to participate. Many of these events are expected to take place at government buildings (the steps of a provincial legislature, city hall, etc.), busy street corners, shopping malls or other highly visible venues.

"The National Safe Boating Council and our counterparts are excited to embark on 234 he future of safe boating with this event," comments Virgil Chambers, Executive Director of the National Safe Boating Council. "It's exciting to be involved in such an educational and fun activity!"

A complete list of the venues and event coordinators will be posted on the website www.readysetinflate.com and through www.smartboater.ca for everyone to access. The site will feature a dynamically updated, searchable Locator Map displaying Event Locations by Province, City / Town so that everyone can find and get plugged into a World Inflatable Life Jacket Inflation venue in their area.

To document the inflations of this World Record event, pictures and videos will be taken by the event coordinators and posted to the web site. Each registered venue will provide a tally of the number of individuals who participated along with their picture proof. Once all of the numbers have been accumulated, the World Record Inflation number will be posted to the website.

We want everyone to participate in this exciting event. Just go to www.readysetinflate.com or www.smartboater.ca to find the venue closest to you. The more people we can get participating, the greater the awareness for wearing life jackets.

For further information: Susanne Simic, Simic Public Relations for the Canadian Safe Boating Council, [phone], [email protected]