The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) announced today its support of “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day,” which will be held on Friday, May 16, as part of a national safety awareness campaign. ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division is joining boating professionals and outdoor enthusiasts to heighten awareness of different life jacket styles that are available and demonstrate their comfort and versatility by wearing them to work.
The annual event, hosted by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) serves as a fun, educational event just prior to National Safe Boating Week, May 17-23, the official launch of the 2025 Safe Boating Campaign. Educating the boating public about the safety and comfort of life jackets has been a main focus of the campaign. “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work” Day will take place on Friday, May 16, wherever you are!
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Participating in ‘Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day’ is a simple but powerful way to remind everyone that life jackets save lives. Just like putting on a seat belt when you get into a vehicle, wearing a life jacket should be second nature when you’re on or near the water. ALEA is proud to support this national initiative to help make Alabama’s waterways safer for all.”
Colonel Jonathan Archer, Director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS), agreed and said, “Life jackets are more comfortable, stylish, and effective than ever before. By wearing them at work, we’re showing how easy it is to stay safe on the water. ALEA is committed to promoting responsible boating and water safety — and it starts with setting the example ourselves.”
ALEA is asking all participants to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work and post it to social media with the hashtag #wearyourlifejacketatworkday and tag the Safe Boating Campaign (@boatingcampaign) or submit it directly to the NSBC at outreach@safeboatingcouncil.org.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s national statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2023, and that approximately 87 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Members of the boating public as well as those interested in showing the wearability of life jackets are encouraged to participate.
