Focus on lifejackets and flares in Great Southern boating safety blitz

Great Southern skippers will be given an opportunity to experience using flares and upgrade their old lifejacket when the Department of Transport's (DoT) Marine Safety Education Trailer tours Albany and Denmark early next month.

DoT Manager Safety Education Laurie Adams said local skippers with recently expired flares were encouraged to attend the specially organised marine safety Experience Flares event where they could also participate in DoT's successful Old4New lifejacket upgrade program.

"As the summer boating season nears many skippers are heading out on the water after a long winter break, so it is timely to be reinforcing safety on the water and outlining the things skippers need to do before launching their vessel," Mr Adams said.

"Our experienced education officers will be attending a number of events in Albany and Denmark to highlight key actions including checking safety gear before each trip to ensure it is in good working order and readily accessible in an emergency.

"In the great Southern in particular we are also pushing the need for skippers to keep a check on the weather while out on the water using the Bureau of Meteorology's MetEye service www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/

DoT's Old4New program, delivered in conjunction with the Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia, is an upgrade opportunity where old, damaged, obsolete or foam filled lifejackets can be exchanged for a voucher for use at a local retail outlet when purchasing a new lifejacket. Voucher limits and restrictions are in place so people who want to participate should check the guidelines at www.transport.wa.gov.au/lifejackets

Old4New upgrades are available from the Marine Safety Education Trailer at the Albany Show on November 10-11, 2017, the Experience Flares event at the Albany Waterfront Marina from 9-11am Sunday November 12, 2017 and at the Denmark Town Park from 10-12noon Monday November 13, 2017.

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Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au