SEE HOW LIFEJACKETS SAVE LIVES AT THE LONDON BOAT SHOW

Friday, January 09, 2009
Posted 09:52 GMT

This year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI and RYA are joining forces to encourage more of the public to wear lifejackets or personal floatation devices when you set to sea at the London International Boat Show, at ExCel from 9 - 18 January, 2009.

Nobody intends to end up in the water, but as we all know, accidents can and do happen. Good training and common sense helps, but even so eleven boaters may have been saved last year alone, had they been wearing a correctly fitting and maintained lifejacket.

The MCA, in collaboration with the RNLI and RYA, are hoping to reduce this number. At the Boat Show the three organisations will be presenting on the Main Stage each day at 15.30 to promote the wearing of lifejackets.

Rod Johnson, Chief Coastguard - Maritime and Coastguard Agency said:

The presentation on stage will be great fun and hopefully it will help to encourage all those who set to sea to wear a properly maintained, fit for purpose, lifejacket or buoyancy aid at all times when at sea. It will include a high impact adventure dramatised by actors on the stage each afternoon, featuring advice and information about the importance of wearing lifejackets.

Families and schools can get involved at midday every day with Seaskool, in association with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. This is a new educational slot teaching children how to enjoy and get into boating. It is aimed at families and children with quizzes, games and lots of prizes.

Posted By: Fiona Warren

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401