Wear A Life Jacket To Work, Promote Safe Boating

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Don't be surprised if a co-worker is wearing a life jacket in the office.

Maryland's Natural Resources Police are urging the public to wear life jackets to work on Friday. Natural Resources Police say that by encouraging the public to wear a life jacket in a non-typical setting such as at work, the department hopes to increase boating safety awareness. The initiative kicks off National Safe Boating Week.

Natural Resources Police say there were 24 boating deaths in the state last year. They add that nationwide, more than three-quarters of boating deaths are due to drowning, many of which could have been prevented with the use of a life jacket.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)