Beaufort group urges boaters to wear life jackets to work

The Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron is urging area boaters to wear life jackets to work May 20.

“Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day” is an initiative of the National Safe Boating Council to raise awareness of different life jacket styles and their comfort.

The National Safe Boating Council is asking all participants to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work and post it to the Ready, Set, Wear It! Facebook page or submit it directly to the NSBC at outreach@safeboatingcouncil.org. Participants are also encouraged to tweet their picture using the hashtag #readysetwearit.

Drowning was the reported cause of death in approximately 68 percent of recreational boating fatalities in 2014, according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics cited in a news release, and 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Beaufort group urges boaters to wear life jackets to work."