By Lynn Burkhead, For the Herald Democrat

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the National Safe Boating Council, are both urging boaters, anglers, and water enthusiasts to join in on the fun today by wearing a life jacket, or personal floatation device (PFD), to work.

It’s all for a good, fun educational cause as the summer boating season approaches and kicks off with today’s “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day!” for Friday, May 20.

According to a news release from the National Safe Boating Council, this day is all about being a fun way to help raise national and global awareness through an effort that “…encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible.”

“Bring the fun on ‘Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day!’,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director for the National Safe Boating Council, in a news release. “No matter your age, this is a great opportunity to share with others your love for boating – and be entered for a chance to win a prize.”

In today’s effort to help create a safer boating experience this year, Pentz notes that there are a variety of ways for individuals to participate, including wearing a life jacket wherever a person works, snapping a photo showing the wearing of a PFD, posting that picture on social media platforms (with the hashtag of #wearyourlifejacketatworkday), and tagging the “Safe Boating Campaign” on social media sites with @boatingcampaign.

The news release also indicates that boaters will be randomly selected throughout the day, giving them the opportunity to win prizes from the Safe Boating Campaign.

“Share about your favorite boating activity and why you boat responsibly with your family, friends, and colleagues on this day,” said Pentz, in the news release.

After the “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day!” effort on this Friday, the attention then shifts over the next seven days to the “2022 National Safe Boating Week,” an annual effort that will take place from May 21-27 this year.

During this weeklong effort, the Safe Boating Campaign will be providing daily tips for boaters on various social media platforms. According to Pentz, you can follow the Safe Boating Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @boatingcampaign.

All of this is important because water safety is of paramount importance as the year’s summer boating season commences, along with the peak of late spring and summertime fishing efforts taking place.

As that influx of boaters and anglers takes place on lakes across Texas and the remainder of the country, Pentz notes that U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities in 2020. And unfortunately, some 86 percent of those who drowned that year were not wearing life jackets at the time.

Keep in mind that just wearing a life jacket isn’t necessarily enough. When selecting a life jacket, or PFD, a boater should check and make sure that it is a U.S. Coast Guard approved floatation device, that it is appropriate for the water activity being participated in, and that if fits properly.

Incidentally, the National Safe Boating Council was established in 1958 and is reportedly the foremost coalition for the advancement and promotion of safer boating throughout the nation thanks to education, outreach, and training efforts. And the Safe Boating Campaign is also produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, along with being administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

To learn more about both of the above, please visit www.safeboatingcampaign.com and/or www.safeboatingcouncil.org.