OPP Releases New PSAs About Importance of Wearing Lifejackets

Boating Deaths on the Rise, Lack of Lifejacket Use Almost Always a Factor  

ORILLIA, ON, July 31, 2014 /CNW/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has released a series of Public Service Announcements (PSA) in an effort to raise awareness about the important role lifejackets and personal floatation devices (PFD) play in saving lives in boating incidents.

The majority of boating fatality victims recovered in OPP marine investigations this season would have likely survived had they been wearing a lifejacket or PFD. The PSAs reflect the OPP's latest efforts to reach out to boaters and get them to wear this important life-saving equipment rather than just having it nearby as many boaters do when tragedy strikes.  

Three new, original PSA videos in varying lengths are now available on YouTube for the general public to view (as well as linked below in high resolution for professional use). Audio-only spots are also available for interested radio stations at the links below.

The OPP strongly encourages News Editors and boating safety agencies to broadcast/distribute the PSAs to help the OPP raise awareness about lifejacket and PFD use, in a joint effort to save lives on Ontario waterways. Feel free to also use them on web sites and tweet about them.

VIDEO:
http://www.opp.ca/media/pfd/PSA_WaterSafety_15secs.mp4
http://www.opp.ca/media/pfd/PSA_WaterSafety_30secs.mp4
http://www.opp.ca/media/pfd/PSA_WaterSafety_1min20sec.mp4

AUDIO:
http://www.opp.ca/media/pfd/PSA_WaterSafety_30secs.wav
http://www.opp.ca/media/pfd/PSA_WaterSafety_15secs.wav

SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police

Contacts by OPP Region:

Highway Safety Division:  
Sergeant Kerry Schmidt   
Phone: [phone]

Central Region:  
Sergeant Peter Leon   
Phone: [phone]

East Region:   
Sgt. Kristine Rae     
Phone: [phone]

Northwest Region:  
Sergeant Shelley Garr  
Phone: [phone]

North East Region:  
Sergeant Carolle Dionne
Phone: [phone]

West Region:
A/Sergeant Chrystal Jones
Phone: [phone]