Old4New lifejackets at the Perth International Boat Show
Wearing a lifejacket never ruined a day on the water, and in fact studies have found that a lifejacket, when use correctly, doubles a person’s chance of survival once immersed in water. Royal Life Saving Society WA (RLSSWA) has partnered with the Department of Transport (DoT) to promote the importance of boaters wearing lifejackets at all times when out on the water.
Royal Life Saving Society WA Senior Manager Health Promotion and Research, Lauren Nimmo, says “over the past 10 years, 473 people have drowned in Australian waterways whilst participating in a boating activity. Of these, one third occurred at inland waterway locations. However, what is concerning is that only 8% of individuals were wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident.”
The Old4New lifejacket campaign will be running at the Perth International Boat Show this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 12pm. There will be a maximum of 50 lifejackets available each day.
To purchase a new lifejacket for $65 from RLSSWA or get a $15 voucher from DoT an old, damage or obsolete lifejacket must be exchanged. At each location, a maximum of one lifejacket per boat can be exchanged for a new $65 lifejacket from RLSSWA. A maximum of two $15 vouchers are available per boat in the metropolitan area.
Miss Nimmo says “Lifejackets are not what they used to be. The uncomfortable bulkiness is out the window and new slimline compact lifejackets are very comfortable and easy to wear. With this new design, there is no excuse to not wear one on the water.”
The Old4New campaign was launched at the 2016 Hillarys Boat Show and had a very successful attendance, which lead to selling out after 15 minutes. Since then over 400 people have participated in the campaign and upgraded their lifejacket.
Miss Nimmo says “we are encouraging everyone attending the boat show to bring down their old lifejackets and take advantage of this great deal.”
More information about the Old4New lifejacket can be found at the link below.
