Poolside Life Jacket Demonstration Article & photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor, SITREP

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Auxiliarist Stu Soffer event chairman

Saturday noon, August 23
Event chairman Stu Soffer must have an in with the weatherman! The gray skies and rainy weather called a halt to their appearance and bright blue, sunny skies took over. At least for awhile, it did start to rain again about two hours after the event.

Auxiliarist Stu Soffer, Auxiliary Association Marketing Department and Mr. Virgil Chambers, National Safe Boating Council put on a live demonstration of the proper usage of life jackets. During his overview Soffer said, “We don’t use the term PFD in public anymore, the public understands the term life jacket, they really don’t understand PFD.”

The various types of life jackets and the proper use and maintenance were the core of the show. Models described the jackets at the pool’s edge, then dove in the water for a demonstration of their actual use.

Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara volunteered to assist in one of the demonstrations. She tossed a stuffed dog, equipped with an inflatable life jacket. She laughed with glee when the jacket instantly inflated on hitting the water. “We saved him, he’ll live another day,” someone shouted.

“Goodie bags” with safe boating material and inflatable life jacket bobbins were passed out to the numerous spectators who line the pool.

~HRW