News Release

Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day on May 21st

Bold Gold Media staff and Park Ranger Susie Kaspar enthusiastically wear their life jackets to work.

National Park Service

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River invites the public to help save lives by showing their support for water safety on “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work” Day on Friday, May 21, 2021. Since 1980, there have been 69 drownings on the Upper Delaware River however nobody has ever drowned wearing a properly fitted life jacket. No matter if you are an active river user, a local business, or a community organization, everyone can play a role and help spread the word that wearing a life jacket can save your life. Safety on the water is everyone’s responsibility!"

When recreating on the Delaware River it is imperative that individuals not only have, but also wear a properly fitting life jacket at all times whether swimming, boating, fishing, or floating,” said Superintendent Joe Salvatore. “The river communities and the National Park Service want all of our residents and visitors to have a positive and safe experience when on this wild and scenic river."

This annual event, hosted by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) serves as a fun and educational way to kick off National Safe Boating Week, May 16-22, the official launch of the 2021 North American Safe Boating Campaign. Educating river users about the safety and importance of life jackets has been a worthwhile and primary focus of both the North American Safe Boating Campaign and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. According to 2019 U.S. Coast Guard statistics, drowning was the reported cause of death in 79 percent of all boating fatalities, and of those 86 percent were reported as not wearing their life jackets.

The National Safe Boating Council and Upper Delaware S&RR are asking every participant to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work – whether that’s home, the office, in a suit, or in your jammies and post it on social media along with the hashtags #lifejacketatwork and #safeboating on Upper Delaware’s Facebook page @updeNPS and Instagram @upperdelawarenps. Also be sure to tag @BoatingCampaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Remember, “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work” Day will take place on Friday, May 21. Wherever you are, just Wear It! Your participation could help save a life!