Second Annual "Ready, Set, Inflate!" Inflatable Life Jacket World Record Day to Kick Off National Safe Boating Week

BRISTOW, VA--(Marketwire - May 17, 2011) - It's time to join efforts to once again bring an important boating safety issue -- life jacket wear -- to the forefront and set a world record along the way. The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), in partnership with the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), invites boating safety professionals, the boating community and the media to participate in the "Ready, Set, Inflate!" event on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Participants will gather in cities around the globe to heighten awareness of inflatable life jackets. This year, the NSBC and CSBC will tally not only the number of participants who inflate their inflatable life jackets during the event, but also those who wear an inherently buoyant life jacket.

"We hope this year's 'Ready, Set, Inflate!' event not only increases life jacket wear and safety efforts, but also the number of participants in the world record day," said Virgil Chambers, executive director of the NSBC.

"Ready, Set, Inflate!" will usher in National Safe Boating Week, this year May 21-27, 2011. The goal of National Safe Boating Week is to educate and inform the boating public about boating safety, specifically life jackets. Educating the boating public about the safety and comfort of inflatable life jackets has been a main focus of the North American Safe Boating Campaign.

Last year, 1,154 North American participants "inflated" at the same time. That number increased to 1,569 when 415 Australians "inflated" on July 30, 2010 at the Sydney International Boat Show.

"What better way to inspect and test your inflatable life jacket each year, while also having some fun and helping to set a world record," Chambers added. "The partnership between the NSBC and the CSBC has helped to increase the knowledge of safe boating and life jacket wear among the boating community and the general public."

The success of "Ready, Set, Inflate!" Inflatable Life Jacket World Record Day depends on local sponsors and partners. Cabela's® is once again serving as the national sponsor in the U.S. and boating safety educators and organizations are asked to hold local inflation events in their area. Leland, Ltd. has worked with the NSBC to offer over 1,000 CO2 cartridges to allow participants the opportunity to inflate their life jacket, but also practice re-arming techniques of inflatable life jackets. SmartBoater is sponsoring the event throughout Canada bringing the important message of life jacket wear to boaters throughout the country. For a list of all the 2011 sponsors, please visit the website.

People interested in organizing an event in the U.S. and Canada can visit www.ReadySetInflate.com. The website also has answers to frequently asked questions, event day checklists, locating an event and general information about life jacket wear. The website has a special section for the media to use footage and materials from past events.

To ensure an accurate count from each location, all organizers are asked to record their event through photographs or video as well as a sign-up sheet. After the event numbers are tallied, the total number of participants is posted to the website.

"The future of safe boating needs events like 'Ready, Set, Inflate!' and the Canadian Safe Boating Council and our partners are excited to be involved with this event once again," said Bob Minielly, Chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council. "This event is educational, fun and one of the only times you hear about inflation being a good thing!"

The National Safe Boating Council and the Canadian Safe Boating Council hope to not only set another world record and surpass 2010's participants, but, most importantly, educate the boating public about the comfort and accessibility of inflatable life jackets. Throughout the year, the North American Safe Boating Campaign focuses on life jacket wear and relies on events like "Ready, Set, Inflate!" and National Safe Boating Week to bring more awareness to this life-saving cause. For more information, please visit www.ReadySetInflate.com or www.SafeBoatingCampaign.com.