ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 6, 2010 – Many boaters say that wearing a life jacket makes them hot or uncomfortable. There is a type of life jacket however, that solves these problems — an inflatable life jacket. And in an effort to get more boaters to voluntarily wear a life jacket, the National Safe Boating Council in partnership with the Canadian Safe Boating Council are having the first-ever Inflatable Life Jacket World Record Day on Thursday, May 20 at 11:00 AM EDT / 8:00 AM PST. At the appointed time, participants at locations across North America will simultaneously activate their inflatable life jackets to claim an unprecedented World Record.

“Inflatable life jackets are very easy to wear,” said BoatUS Foundation President Ruth Wood. “With these types of life jackets, the old argument against wearing one just doesn’t hold water any more. We hope this event increases awareness and boaters will choose to wear a comfortable life jacket more often,” she added.

The BoatUS Foundation is urging boaters to join the effort by signing up online to participate in an Inflation Day event near them, or create their own event for their boat club or marina by going to  www.ReadySetInflate.com . Anyone interested in boating safety can use the website to list their event location and get local participation. National sponsor Cabela’s will be holding events at their stores and Leland, Ltd. is donating CO₂ cartridges to help boaters practice re-arming techniques. All local event organizers are asked to record their event through photographs or video as well as a sign-up sheet.

World Record Inflation Day will help to usher in National Safe Boating Week on May 22 – 28, which is designed to educate and inform the boating public about boating safety, specifically life jackets.

For more information on Inflation Day, please visit www.ReadySetInflate.com.  If you’d like to learn more about inflatable life jackets, go to http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation/findings/floatingonair.htm .

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About the BoatUS Foundation:

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is an innovative leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.  It provides educational outreach directly to boaters with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all.  The 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded in 1981 and is funded primarily by the half million members of BoatU.S.