VERO BEACH — On any other day, a dog in a life jacket standing on dry land might have seemed out of place. But for “Sir Winston of Vero” and his owners, Toby and JoAnn Jarman, it was the correct attire to wear for a chance at a little fame. Forty-five people – and one dog – donned life vests, while participating in a world record attempt at the Vero Beach Power Squadron’s building at MacWilliam Park over the weekend.
Part of “Ready, Set, Wear it!” events in the U.S. and Canada meant to usher in National Boating Safety Week, Vero Beach Power Squadron and community members wore personal floatation devices and gathered at noon for the official count.
Vero Beach Power Squadron safety officer Dan Thomas said it was meant to be a fun way of drawing attention to an important subject.
“We hope to get the word out to people,” Thomas said. “Last year 1,685 people gathered at more than 99 events.”
With the proximity to water, many people in Indian River County use watercraft recreationally. State regulations make equipping boats, paddleboards and other personal watercraft with life vests mandatory, he said.
“They are really easy to wear,” Thomas said. “The easier it is to wear, the more likely people will use them.”
According to recent national statistics, drowning remains the number one cause of fatalities related to boating accidents, he said.
“With beautiful weather, low winds, that’s when accidents happen,” Thomas said. “People get distracted.”
That’s when a pleasure cruise can turn into a nightmare, he said.
“When they don’t have life jackets it’s really bad,” Thomas said.
Safe boating education now starts before buyers even leave the boat dealerships, he said.
“We’re really getting the boat dealers more knowledgeable,” Thomas said. “They’re starting to really help get the word out.”
Still, the need to reach more people is growing.
“The number of folks who sign up for safe boating courses has dropped dramatically over the past few years,” Thomas said. “We need to get more people to take boating safety classes.”
Younger boaters are of special concern and can sometimes be oblivious to boating regulations, according to Thomas.
“Under the law, anyone born after January 1, 1988, needs to have taken a safe boating course to operate a (vessel), including Jet Skis and paddleboards,” Thomas said. “A lot of people don’t know that.”
The Vero Beach Power Squadron is a resource to help boaters get the proper safety education they need, he said.
The squadron’s executive officer Judy Peschio said public boating education is a top priority for Vero Beach Power Squadron.
“We’re really passionate about boating safety,” Peschio said. “It’s really an important thing in this area.”
With adults, children and even a family dog taking part in the event, everyone can see how easy it is to wear the life-saving devices, she said.
National Boating Safety Week runs from May 19 – 25.
For more information about the Vero Beach Power Squadron or boating safety classes, call (772) 231-9543.
