After the Ice Rescue training at Lifesaving Resources I headed to the warmer climate of Florida for the Miami International Boat Show. It was great to see some of the amazing new boats out there and to dream about finding myself on one cruising the Keys. After waking up from my daydream it was down to business, checking out the countless displays and meeting with some of my contacts in the boating media.

One person that I was pleasantly surprised to meet while I was there is Bruce Wright Recreational Boating Safety Specialist with the US Coast Guard. Bruce travels for many months of the year with this amazing trailer he’s built to show people how comfortable lifejackets are now and gives them an opportunity to try different ones on to see which one is right for them. It was great to check it out first hand.

One of the coolest parts of the trailer is a simulator for kids. They get to put on a lifejacket and sit on seats that actually show them how a boat moves in the water while they can see what would be happening on a big screen in front of them. Its really quite cool.

If you are ever at an event where Bruce has the trailer its really worth checking out. Not only is it fun, it will educate you about being comfortable and safe on the water too!

ABC affiliate WJRT in Michigan went along as the US Coast Guard practiced ice rescue on Station Saginaw River. The training involved the students themselves going into the icy cold water to be rescued by their classmates.

In the two videos you can see them wearing our Breathable Immersion Work Suit that you can use as a regular work suit and double as an ice rescue immersion suit as well as the US Coast Guard SAR Vest with LIFT.