Stuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith today welcomed the news that the mobile ‘Old4New’ van will return to Penrith as part of a Transport for NSW program to change the perception that lifejackets are too bulky and uncomfortable to wear.
The campaign van will be at Tench Reserve, Jamisontown on Saturday 4 October 2014 from 2pm to 5pm.
Following on from last year’s successful tour, the van will be back visiting Penrith popular boating hot spots across the state, including many new locations, Stuart Ayres said.
“Our lifejacket van had a very popular first year and this year’s round of visits will be building on this momentum,” Stuart Ayres said.
“A lot of work has been done to get people wearing the new generation slimline lifejackets and we will continue to drive home the message to Penrith boaters again this boating season.
“People who see the van get the opportunity to exchange their old lifejackets and get a discount off new ones,” Stuart Ayres said.
At the visits, experienced staff will chat with the boating community and offer advice on what type of lifejacket best suits their own needs, Stuart Ayres said.
“Lifejackets, like a lot of other products have improved and evolved over time”, Stuart Ayres said.
“If you compare the old big and bulky lifejackets with our modern day slimline products, you’ll see how much they’ve advanced and how comfortable they are to wear all day during any type of on-water activity.
Stuart Ayres said the program was designed to promote wearing a lifejacket, particularly in small boats, right throughout the boating journey.
“Over the past decade, nine out of 10 people who drowned while boating weren’t wearing a lifejacket. This is an alarming statistic,” Stuart Ayres said.
“Getting out on the water is fun, but accidents can and do happen, especially in smaller craft which are less stable and more susceptible to capsize and swamping than larger vessels.
“Lifejackets must be worn in craft under 4.8m at night, offshore, on alpine waters or when alone; and by anyone under the age of 12 years,” Stuart Ayres said.
“People need to make putting on a lifejacket a habit, because one day it might just save your life.
“Like any piece of safety equipment, lifejackets require maintenance and servicing. One of the benefits of the new generation inflatable lifejackets offered under the lifejacket upgrade program is that those jackets can be self-serviced,” Stuart Ayres said.
Last season, the Transport for NSW ‘Old4New’ lifejacket van visited over 90 locations, spoke to thousands of people and exchanged more than 2500 lifejackets.
“With summer fast approaching, more boaters are using our beautiful Nepean River so now is the time to make sure their lifejackets are all in order,” added Stuart Ayres.
For further information on the lifejacket promotional vehicle, visit lifejacketwearit.com.au
