05-31-2009, 11:10 AM
WICHITA, KANSAS - Heightened summertime usage of California's waterways combined with expected increases in close-to-home vacations elevates the need for boating and water safety education to an even higher level in 2009. To meet this need, the California Department of Boating and Waterways (CDB&W) has once again tabbed Stearns® products for use in this year's Safe Boating Campaign to promote boating and water safety. This is the sixth year the department has relied on Stearns-branded personal flotation devices (PFDs) for this highly visible and effective promotion of boating and water safety that coincides with the summer's boating season.
As the industry leader in user-friendly and safety-conscious PFDs, the Stearns products used in conjunction with this program directly address the important need of boating and water safety. Since Stearns PFDs became an integral part of the program six years ago, with the use of grassroots programs shared with retailers and state agencies, participation in the campaign has grown by 50 percent and has seen a marked reduction in boating accidents and water-related fatalities in the state.
By summer's end, the CDB&W will have distributed free Stearns PFDs to more than 5,000 California boaters as a direct result of the program. In addition, more than 15,000 stickers with California-specific safety awareness information has been placed on Stearns flotation devices during this program.
"Partnerships with makers of quality products like Stearns PFDs are great examples of how public and private sectors can work together to benefit the safety of boaters and raise awareness," said Ray T. Tsuneyoshi, Director of California's Department of Boating and Waterways.
The campaign's motto, "If it's your boat, it's YOUR responsibility," educates boaters of their obligation to ensure that each person on board has a properly fitted PFD and adheres to the rules of the state's waterways. With advertising initiatives already in place and increased outreach opportunities through videos and other online resources at BoatResponsibly.com, California's Safe Boating Campaign continues to take its vital message directly to those most at risk for boating- and water-related injuries while achieving compelling results.
In addition to staying safe, Californian's boater and anglers can also benefit from their knowledge of and adherence to water-related safety issues through the "Smartstakes" Safety Quiz. The sweepstakes features a two-minute Safe Boating or Safe Angling quiz, which will provide participants with valuable safety information. Participants will also be able to enter for a chance to win multiple prizes, including a week-long, all-inclusive houseboat vacation or Tracker-brand fishing boat. The sweepstakes run from May 16, 2009 until mid-September 2009. Direct links to the quiz and sweepstakes entry will be on promotional web banners placed on selected boating and angling websites.
Increases in safe boating habits by boat owners and operators not only ensure that families and friends can return to water in the future, but they also reduce fatalities, injuries, property damage and healthcare costs associated to recreational boating accidents. Through the Safe Boating Campaign, the CDB&W and program sponsors not only reinforce the importance of things such as PFD use for all passengers and the dangers of boating under the influence, but expand the message to remind boat owners and operators of their personal responsibility for the safety of every passenger in their vessel as well as their adherence to California's regulations.
California Department of Boating and Waterways Statistics:
· Since 2001, boating accidents in California have decreased by 25 percent.
· Accidents throughout California continue to fall. To date, there have been more than 180 fewer accidents measured against the same time in 2007.
· 2004, 2006 and 2008 experienced the lowest accident numbers and fatalities on California waterways.
· 90 percent of drowning victims may not have drowned if they were wearing a PFD while on waterway.
· "If it's your boat, it's YOUR responsibility" campaign has continued to grow since 2002 and saw its highest levels of participation in 2008, experiencing a 50 percent increase in its first decade of existence.
Stearns® is a registered trademark of The Coleman Company, Inc.
As an international leader in the innovation and marketing of outdoor products, The Coleman Company, Inc., helps people have fun and make memories by providing the gear integral to their favorite outdoor experiences. The company's products include its legendary lanterns and stoves, as well as coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture, and grills under its Coleman® and Exponent® brands. Additionally, the company provides flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, hunting and fishing gear, and safety and survival equipment under its Stearns®, Sevylor®, Sospenders®, Hodgman®, Mad Dog Gear®, Nevin® and Helium® brands. Founded in 1900 and based in Wichita, Kan., Coleman is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at www.coleman.com. Consumers can call 800-835-3278 or e-mail consumerservice@coleman.com for general information or for Coleman products. To view Stearns products, go to www.stearnsflotation.com.
About Jarden Corporation<br />
Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, JT®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene® and Volkl®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bicycle®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, First Alert®, Forster®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Leslie-Locke®, Loew Cornell® and Pine Mountain®. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has over 20,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.
Media Contact<br />
Josh Ward, Blue Heron Communications (800) 654-3766 or Josh@blueheroncomm.com
As the industry leader in user-friendly and safety-conscious PFDs, the Stearns products used in conjunction with this program directly address the important need of boating and water safety. Since Stearns PFDs became an integral part of the program six years ago, with the use of grassroots programs shared with retailers and state agencies, participation in the campaign has grown by 50 percent and has seen a marked reduction in boating accidents and water-related fatalities in the state.
By summer's end, the CDB&W will have distributed free Stearns PFDs to more than 5,000 California boaters as a direct result of the program. In addition, more than 15,000 stickers with California-specific safety awareness information has been placed on Stearns flotation devices during this program.
"Partnerships with makers of quality products like Stearns PFDs are great examples of how public and private sectors can work together to benefit the safety of boaters and raise awareness," said Ray T. Tsuneyoshi, Director of California's Department of Boating and Waterways.
The campaign's motto, "If it's your boat, it's YOUR responsibility," educates boaters of their obligation to ensure that each person on board has a properly fitted PFD and adheres to the rules of the state's waterways. With advertising initiatives already in place and increased outreach opportunities through videos and other online resources at BoatResponsibly.com, California's Safe Boating Campaign continues to take its vital message directly to those most at risk for boating- and water-related injuries while achieving compelling results.
In addition to staying safe, Californian's boater and anglers can also benefit from their knowledge of and adherence to water-related safety issues through the "Smartstakes" Safety Quiz. The sweepstakes features a two-minute Safe Boating or Safe Angling quiz, which will provide participants with valuable safety information. Participants will also be able to enter for a chance to win multiple prizes, including a week-long, all-inclusive houseboat vacation or Tracker-brand fishing boat. The sweepstakes run from May 16, 2009 until mid-September 2009. Direct links to the quiz and sweepstakes entry will be on promotional web banners placed on selected boating and angling websites.
Increases in safe boating habits by boat owners and operators not only ensure that families and friends can return to water in the future, but they also reduce fatalities, injuries, property damage and healthcare costs associated to recreational boating accidents. Through the Safe Boating Campaign, the CDB&W and program sponsors not only reinforce the importance of things such as PFD use for all passengers and the dangers of boating under the influence, but expand the message to remind boat owners and operators of their personal responsibility for the safety of every passenger in their vessel as well as their adherence to California's regulations.
California Department of Boating and Waterways Statistics:
· Since 2001, boating accidents in California have decreased by 25 percent.
· Accidents throughout California continue to fall. To date, there have been more than 180 fewer accidents measured against the same time in 2007.
· 2004, 2006 and 2008 experienced the lowest accident numbers and fatalities on California waterways.
· 90 percent of drowning victims may not have drowned if they were wearing a PFD while on waterway.
· "If it's your boat, it's YOUR responsibility" campaign has continued to grow since 2002 and saw its highest levels of participation in 2008, experiencing a 50 percent increase in its first decade of existence.
Stearns® is a registered trademark of The Coleman Company, Inc.
As an international leader in the innovation and marketing of outdoor products, The Coleman Company, Inc., helps people have fun and make memories by providing the gear integral to their favorite outdoor experiences. The company's products include its legendary lanterns and stoves, as well as coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture, and grills under its Coleman® and Exponent® brands. Additionally, the company provides flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, hunting and fishing gear, and safety and survival equipment under its Stearns®, Sevylor®, Sospenders®, Hodgman®, Mad Dog Gear®, Nevin® and Helium® brands. Founded in 1900 and based in Wichita, Kan., Coleman is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at www.coleman.com. Consumers can call 800-835-3278 or e-mail consumerservice@coleman.com for general information or for Coleman products. To view Stearns products, go to www.stearnsflotation.com.
About Jarden Corporation<br />
Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, JT®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene® and Volkl®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bicycle®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, First Alert®, Forster®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Leslie-Locke®, Loew Cornell® and Pine Mountain®. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has over 20,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.
Media Contact<br />
Josh Ward, Blue Heron Communications (800) 654-3766 or Josh@blueheroncomm.com