The superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area wants the public to wear their lifejacket to work and post a photo on social media today, May 17.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) Superintendent Ann Honious invited the public to participate in “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work” Day. The initiative is intended to help save lives by showing public support for water safety.
“Memorial Day is the start of summer, a time many park visitors will recreate on the Chattahoochee River,” said Ann Honious, superintendent of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, in a news release. “Park visitors must follow local laws for wearing life jackets, but we recommend anyone on the river, wear a properly fitting life jacket.
She wants everyone to take a selfie while wearing their life jacket at work on Friday. That could be at home while teleworking, in the office, or out to lunch while wearing a suit or casual telework outfit. Photos should be posted on social media along with the hashtags #lifejacketatwork, #chattahoocheeriver and #CRNRA on the park’s Facebook page and Instagram @chattahoocheerivernps.
More than 4,000 fatal, unintentional drownings occur annually in the United States. CRNRA has documented 28 drownings since 2012, according to the release. Of that number, 16 deaths were related to swimming and happened within the park’s Palisades unit at Diving Rock Beach.
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work” Day as a fun and educational way to kick off National Safe Boating Week, taking place May 18-24. CRNRA strives to educate park visitors on the safety and importance of life jackets while recreating on the Chattahoochee River. Visitors should #planlikeaparkranger and think about water safety before they visit CRNRA, Honious said in the release.
