There's no excuse for not wearing a life jacket, boating council says

BY JUDI KOSKI

Another boating season is upon us and the Canadian Safety Boating Council (CSBC) wants to remind all boaters about the importance of enjoying water activities safely and responsibly.

This year the CSBC is focusing on a number of important messages, with the most important one being to wear a lifejacket, particularly if operating small open boats.

The great thing about modern life jackets is that boaters now have many options to choose from. These include: new inflatable versions that offer great comfort and a complete range of movement; life jackets designed specifically for hunting, fishing, paddling, and high impact water sports such as water skiing, wakeboarding or riding personal watercraft. With the choices available there are really no excuses for not wearing one.

Although Safe Boating Awareness week only runs from May 17 - 23, it doesn't mean that for the rest of the season boaters can take a holiday from responsible boating. Throughout the week and throughout the summer, CSBC encourages boaters to pay extra attention to their boating safety behaviors, and especially wear life jackets.