With men being over represented in waterway deaths in Australia, Transport for NSW is running a Father’s Day boating safety campaign encouraging Dads to have proper safety equipment on board their boats.
NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said this Father’s Day we’re enlisting the help of mothers and primary school age children to remind Dads how important a lifejacket is when boating.
“We need to keep Dads as safe as possible given eight out of ten people who drown while boating in NSW aren’t wearing a lifejacket and the overwhelming majority are male.”
500 public and private primary schools across NSW will be provided with awareness packs which include a Father’s Day card, coloured pencils and a branded, collapsible silicone bailing bucket to remind all Dads to ensure their safety equipment is up-to-scratch when they’re on the water.
“We want children to encourage fathers and male guardians to make smart decisions when boating.
“Lifejackets are vital for any recreational boater, and they don’t have to be the bulky, cumbersome style of jacket of the past. There are many slim line modern versions and they’re the most important piece of safety equipment in preventing loss of life when boating.
“Lifejacket wear is also required by legislation when out boating, he said.
In addition to the awareness packs, Boating Education Officers are providing talks to school children about boat safety – in the hope they remind their Dads to be safe on the water and stay on top of their game!
“This campaign supports the great work our Boating Education Officers do with schools across the state to reinforce safe boating on our waterways,” Mr Hutchings said.
