DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police encourage public to ‘Wear Your Life Jacket to Work’ May 18

DOVER – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police announced today their support of “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day” on Friday, May 18. They join boating professionals and outdoor enthusiasts in promoting that lifejackets always be worn as a safe boating practice, as well as heightening awareness of the different life jackets available, and showing their comfort and versatility by wearing them to work.

The annual event, hosted by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), serves as a fun, educational day just prior to the start of National Safe Boating Week, May 19-25, the official launch of the 2018 Safe Boating Campaign. Educating the boating public about the safety and comfort of lifejackets has been a main focus of the campaign. Members of the boating public as well as those interested in showing the wearability of life jackets are encouraged to participate.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, along with the National Safe Boating Council, is asking all participants to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work and post it on social media using #lifejacket2work #safeboating and #DEFWNRPolice.

The most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities in 2016, and that approximately 83 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

For more information on this event, or boating safety in Delaware, contact Delaware Boating Safety & Education Coordinator Sgt. Brooke Africa at 302-739-9913 or email brooke.africa@delaware.gov.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Africa, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 123