LEWISPORTE -
Eleven people took part in the Inflation Life Jacket World Record Day attempt at Lewisporte Yacht Club on May 20, as part of National Safe Boating Week (May 22-28).
Throughout North America, Inflatable Personal Floatation Devices (PFD's) were simultaneously inflated. Lewisporte participants were among the first-ever to attempt such a record using PFD's.
The local event was hosted by the Lewisporte Yacht Club and coordinated by Transport Canada Boating Safety officer Colin Hiscock.
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) and the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) educate and inform boaters about safety, especially life jacket safety during National Safe Boating Week. The inflatable life jackets have been the main focus and promoted throughout the campaign for the past few years.
The inflatable life jackets are proven to be a more comfortable and lightweight option than the buoyant life jacket. The life jackets are only inflated when manually deployed or automatically when reacting to either immersion in water or a change in pressure after being submerged.
Inflatable PFD's also come in two different styles; vest or pouch. Vest types can be inflated orally, manually or automatically. While pouch types can be orally inflated or manually inflated by pulling a toggle to activate the inflation system.
The PFD's are not approved for anyone under the age of 16, anyone who weighs less than 80 lbs, use on a personal watercraft or during white-water activities.
Going for the record
At 12:30 p.m. the 11 participants automatically, manually or orally inflated their lifejackets to become part of the World Record attempt.
Participant Jean Boone, who brought along her husband Ivan, said not only was it rewarding to be part of the Inflation Life Jacket World Record Day, but she also found the information presented by Mr. His-
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