Fort Myers residents urged to wear life jackets to work for boating safety awareness

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Fort Myers residents are encouraged to wear life jackets to work on Friday to help promote boating safety awareness.

The annual event, hosted by the National Safe Boating Council, helps kick off National Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 16 to May 22. Participants are encouraged to wear a life jacket throughout the day and share photos on social media using the hashtag #wearyourlifejacketatworkday.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 91 in Fort Myers Beach says the campaign is meant to remind boaters that life jackets can save lives.

According to the Coast Guard, drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2024, and about 87% of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket.

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