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May 14, 2007
“Wear The Gear” Life Jacket Safety Awareness Campaign To Be Launched In Ohio
Nationwide Insurance Company Is Primary Sponsor
 COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) today announced it is launching the “Wear the Gear” campaign May 18 to promote life jacket safety awareness among the state’s estimated 3 million recreational boaters. The start of the campaign coincides with National Safe Boating Week, May 19-25. “Wear the Gear” activities will continue throughout summer boating season.
“’Wear the Gear’ is more than a slogan, it’s a way to save lives,” said Michael Quinn, acting chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. “Last year in Ohio, 11 of the 12 people who drowned in boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket. Accidents happen fast, and there often isn’t time to find a stowed life jacket when you really need it. As boating grows in popularity, so does the importance of wearing an approved life jacket.”
 Quinn pointed out that life jacket design has come a long way, and today’s life jackets are lightweight and comfortable.
Nationwide Insurance Company, ODNR’s partner for the campaign, will sponsor some “Wear the Gear” activities. Quinn noted that Nationwide’s investment in the “Wear the Gear” campaign provides resources to reach more boaters with the life jacket safety message.
“Nationwide is committed to helping to save lives on the roadways, in the home and on our waterways,” said David Arango, regional vice-president of Nationwide Insurance. “We hope this education and awareness campaign helps boaters understand that part of the fun of being on the water is to practice good boating safety behavior, which starts with wearing the gear.”
ODNR has produced a “Wear the Gear” radio ad that urges boaters to place the same high priority on safety gear that professional racecar drivers do. The ad won a first-place creative award during the International Water and Boating Safety Summit held in March in San Antonio, Texas. Nationwide will help sponsor distribution of the ad.
 Boaters will be reminded to put on their life jackets with 500 “Wear the Gear” signs to be placed at public boat launch ramps statewide. ODNR watercraft officers who observe boaters wearing their life jackets will reward them with a flexible bracelet bearing a boating safety message. In addition, Ohio boaters who participate in a free vessel safety check or visit a Division of Watercraft office to register their boat will receive a “Wear It” floating key chain.
Ohio is ninth in the nation in the number of registered boats. Nationally, the trend is toward safer boating even though there are more boats on the water. According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, there were nearly 40 percent fewer boating accidents in 2005 than in 1995; the number of registered boats rose by 1.2 million over the same period. However, nearly 90 percent of those who drown as the result of a boating accident are not wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard calculates that nationwide 426 lives could have been saved in 2005 if those boaters had worn life jackets.
ODNR Division of Watercraft offices are located in Columbus, Delaware, Oregon, Sandusky, Cleveland, Ashtabula, Akron, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Bethel and Wapakoneta. A list of these locations and phone numbers is available online at ohiodnr.com.
Visit the ODNR web site for more information on the “Wear the Gear” campaign and other boating programs, or call the Division of Watercraft toll-free at 877-4BOATER.
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