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Event floats vital issue

Staff ReporterWanneroo Times

Ready, Set, Wear It! events were held all over the world but this was the only one in WA, with 73 people donning a life jacket.

Between 10am and noon, WVSR was at Hillarys Boat Harbour educating people on the importance of life jackets and talking to people about the rescue group.

WVSR crew member Ian Jones said the main messages for the day were to wear a life jacket, ensure it was easy to access and people know how to put it on as well as to log on and off with the local sea rescue when heading out on the water.

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Mr Jones said they targeted non-boaties with commercial life jackets that would be used on a cruise ship or ferry.

‘This was aimed to show people what they would need to do in advance if they were on a commercial vessel in trouble,’ he said.

‘For boaters we tried to concentrate more on the types of life jackets they might use.

‘Several parents had thought of lifejackets only in terms of boaties but had not thought that all kids playing near water that is not a shallow beach could benefit from life jackets so several were interested in kids’ life jackets and we had several to demonstrate.’

Barry Kedge, whom WVSR recently rescued when the boat he was fishing on capsized off Ocean Reef, was also at the event talking about his ordeal and how important life jackets are.