I read an article in today’s Globe & Mail on drowning in Canada that really made me think. It said that fishermen are more likely to drown than swimmers, sailors, kayakers and other water enthusiasts. It also remarked on the low PFD-wear rate in the fishing community. While I don’t doubt the stats, I’d like to believe the aversion to PFDs is changing. I admit that I used to be one of the weak-swimming, non-PFD wearing fishermen referenced in the article, but I - and many around me - have changed. In the last few years I have seen a dramatic increase in PFD wear within the fishing community. Many are moving to inflatable PFDs which allow them to maintain mobility and comfort in warmer weather, and many are wearing flotation suits as protection from the elements in open boats. While we still have a long way to go, I believe fishermen are realizing how easy it is to become a statistic and how equally easy it is to put on a PFD and stay out of the stats altogether.

The full Globe & Mail article can be found online..

Mustang Survival is proud to announce their association with PROTOTYPE THIS, an all-new Discovery Channel series. PROTOTYPE THIS brings viewers straight to the drawing board and through the design process to experience firsthand as inventions come to life. The series features a team of expert engineers who work each week to come up with one-of-a-kind prototypes of tomorrow for people to experience today. Mustang Survival was involved in the show by providing a sample of our Rescue Stick, and will be featured in the “Flying Lifeguard” episode.

As shown in this video, the Rescue Stick is an emergency flotation device that allows first responders to quickly stabilize a victim at risk of drowning, increasing the chance of survival. The compact Rescue Stick can be accurately thrown over 100 feet, automatically inflating in seconds upon contact with the water. Once the victim is stabilized, self rescue or a secondary rescue effort such as a throw bag, vessel or rescue swimmer can help bring the victim to safety.

PROTOTYPE THIS premieres tomorrow, October 15th at 10pm on Discovery Channel.

A few weeks ago I received a call from Captain Keith of the Fishing Vessel Wizard. The US Coast Guard had suggested that he and his crew would be a great role models to show off that wearing Inflatable PFDs makes for a great safety habit. With crab season around the corner he decided to get his crew the Mustang’s Auto Hydrostatic Inflatable PFDs. With the extreme conditions the crew work in, hydrostatic inflator technology which only triggers inflation if immersed 4″ or when the cord is pulled, is a good alternative to foam vests. Especially if it means that they are actually worn all the time. We wish Captain Keith and his crew a safe and rewarding season and will follow their endeavours on the Deadliest Catch that is airs on the Discovery Channel.

Thank to everyone who participated in our contest! This is our winning entry! The family will be receiving a Mustang Survival PFD pack and have their photo featured in the Discover Boating Photo Contest.

Entries have closed on our Safe Boating Photo Contest and now its time for you to decide on which one will win. The winning photo will be featured in the Discover Boating program and the photographer will win a family pack of Mustang Survival PFDs.

To vote for your favorite, just visit our Flickr photo group and leave a comment why you think that one should win.

With the summer having officially begun, the WaterWise Boat Safety Team just finished all elementary school visits and WaterWise Wisdom presentations, where we were able to educate a large group of children on boating and water safety just in time for the start of summer!

Last weekend kicked off with Boat for Hope, where we assisted Mustang Survival and the Coast Guard on the water near Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. The day was filled with pirates, treasure hunts, great weather and a lot of fun for the kids! Father’s Day was spent at Rice Lake in North Vancouver for “Go Fish” family fishing day. It was a very positive and fun environment filled with families, and we gave out two Mustang Fisherman’s Vests to some very lucky boaters!

After that, we spent a few days doing on-water visits and courtesy checks. Keri and I reached hundreds of boaters, talking to people on the docks and water, as well as handing out safe boating kits! Stay tuned for more updates!

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary today published a list of Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Boaters and Those Who Love Them. The top item on the list is a “Sleek, light-weight, and comfortable inflatable lifejacket”.

This picture, submitted by jbabi1 for our Safe Boating Photo Contest gives you an idea of some of the great new inflatable PFDs out there for dad.

Hey safe boaters! We were just recently in sunny Penticton, British Columbia. After picking up our newly decaled vehicle, we were off to Penticton for the Children’s Festival in Okanagan Lake Park. The event was packed with children and adults alike; keen to check out our WaterWise tent! Kids took part in “WaterWise questionnaires” and throw-rope demonstrations, while the adults tried out the “Fatal Vision” goggles and picked up some safe boating kits. After that, Keri and I took a day to visit local marinas, marine shops and parks; handing out safe boating kits to all! We ended our trip with a busy day of school presentations and then headed home. It was a great weekend with some awesome weather. Next up for us: more “WaterWise Wisdom” school presentations! That’s all for now…. Rachel