2009 National Safe Boating Week is May 16-22, 2009

Boating advocates and partners are gearing up for the 2009 National Safe Boating Week (NSBW), the official launch of the North American Safe Boating Campaign. Scheduled for May 16-22, NSBW provides a unique opportunity to promote boating safety to approximately 78 million recreational boaters nationwide.

This year's campaign - themed "Wear It!" - will once again focus attention on the importance of always wearing a life jacket on the water and will once again feature an added component - the "Be a Survivor!" contest, first introduced in 2006.

Enter 2009's "Be a Survivor Wear It!" Essay and Video Contest If you’re a boater whose life has been saved by a life jacket, share your survival story. The winning entry will receive a $1,000 shopping spree at West Marine®! All eligible entrants will receive a NSBC boating safety item valued at approximately $5.00 and might have his or her entry included in a future edition of the book “Saved By the Jacket” or on a boating safety Web site!
- Contest brochure describes how to enter and tell and show your life-saving experience!

Entries may be submitted beginning May 16 and must be received no later than 5:00 PM (EST) September 2, 2009. Winners will be notified by e-mail or phone on or about October 31, 2009. Finalists will receive prizes courtesy of West Marine® as well as possibly see stories published in future editions of NSBC's book, Saved By the Jacket .