Boating Enthusiasts Set New Life Jacket World Record at 'Ready, Set, Wear It!' Event

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Jun 10, 2014) -  Thousands of boating enthusiasts set a new world record for life jacket wear during the fifth annual 'Ready, Set, Wear It!' Life Jacket World Record Day. At 175 events around the globe, 6,973 participants inflated their life jacket or wore an inherently buoyant life jacket, breaking the world record for life jacket wear on May 17, 2014.

The National Safe Boating Council and Canadian Safe Boating Council partnered to support the event, part of the yearlong Wear It! campaign to promote boating safety and voluntary wear of life jackets.

"Wow! I am amazed by the international support for Ready, Set, Wear It! and boating safety," said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council. "Thank you to our volunteers, partners and retail sponsors for their dedication to making this event fun and heightening awareness of boating safety."

The previous world record of 5,774 participants was set during last year's event. Nearly 20,000 people have participated in the event since 2010.

Japan had the highest number of participants at a single event, with 1,041 participants at an event hosted by the Maris in Odaiba, Tokyo. The largest U.S. event was hosted by Miami Country Park District in Covington, Ohio with 441 participants.

"It's exciting see boaters involved in bringing more awareness to boating safety and life jacket wear," said Jean Murray, chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council. "Life jacket wear is the most effective life-saving strategy during recreational water activities."

Leland Ltd., Halkey-Roberts and iSi Components provided cartridges and additional products to allow participants the opportunity to inflate and practice re-arming inflatable life jackets. Marine retail sponsors Cabela's and West Marine hosted local events at stores. For more information, visit ReadySetWearIt.com.

The North American Safe Boating Campaign unites the efforts of a wide variety of boating safety advocates, including the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Canadian Safe Boating Council and the National Safe Boating Council. The campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Share your boating story at SafeBoatingCampaign.com, and follow Wear It! at twitter.com/BoatingCampaign and facebook.com/SafeBoatCampaign.