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

MANASSAS, VA--(Marketwired - Jun 9, 2015) -  Thousands of boaters around the globe shattered records for the most life jackets worn on the same day during the sixth annual Ready, Set, Wear It! Life Jacket World Record Day. At 257 events around the world, 10,917 participants inflated their life jacket or wore an inherently buoyant life jacket, breaking the world record for life jacket wear on May 16, 2015.

The National Safe Boating Council and Canadian Safe Boating Council sponsor this international event, which is part of the yearlong Wear It! campaign to promote boating safety and voluntary, consistent wear of life jackets.

"It's amazing to see support for boating safety grow worldwide each year," said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council. "Thank you to our volunteers, partners and retail sponsors for their dedication in making this event possible."

The previous world record of 6,973 participants was set during last year's event. More than 30,000 people have participated in the event since 2010.

Japan had the highest number of participants at a single event, with 811 participants at an event hosted by the Marine Sports Foundation in Okayama at the Tamano Minato Festival. The largest U.S. event was hosted by Catawba Sail & Power Squadron in Charlotte, N.C. with 558 participants.

"Ready, Set, Wear It! has increased worldwide awareness around boating safety and voluntary, consistent wear of life jackets," said John Gullick, chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council. "We believe wearing a life jacket is the simplest 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. Find out more at readysetwearit.com. 

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

Follow Wear It! on Twitter at @boatingcampaign, like on Facebook at facebook.com/safeboatcampaign, and share your boating story at safeboatingcampaign.com.