Royal Life Saving WA life jacket upgrade program encourages boaters to trade in old for new at discount price

An alarming rate of drownings in the Mid West has prompted the expansion of a program to allow boat users to upgrade their old life jackets. Geraldton Yacht Club has become the latest point for boaters to exchange their life jackets as part of Royal Life Saving’s Old4New initiative. The trade-in scheme allows people to surrender their old or damaged life jacket for a new Crewsaver self-inflating, slim-fitting version at a discounted price of $80. The Mid West and Gascoyne region has the highest rate of drowning in WA, according to Royal Life Saving WA, with half of its drowning deaths occurring while fishing or boating, with no life jackets reported being worn during these incidents. Between 2011 and 2021, there were 89 drowning incidents in the Mid West, with 47 hospital admissions and 42 ending in death. Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Exmouth were the top three locations for drowning, with 52.4 per cent of incidents happening in the ocean or harbour. Jen Mickle, program co-ordinator at Royal Life Saving WA, said: “Technological advances mean there are now better designed life jackets which are lighter and more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time.” Geraldton Yacht Club Commodore John Gummery said the club was proud to be working with Royal Life Saving WA on the life jacket exchange program. “I believe this is a brilliant incentive to promote the importance of always wearing life jackets while boating. The new self-inflating, slim-fitting life jacket will be safer and easier for people to use,” he said. The Old4New program was first launched in 2016 and since then has upgraded almost 3000 life jackets, making boaters and fishers safer when out on the water.