The state of Florida leads the nation in boating deaths every year. And the U-S Coast Guard feels that could change if people simply used their life vests.

The most recent statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show that 80-people died in 2005 while boating. And a majority of those deaths were due to drowning. So the U-S Coast Guard Auxiliary is holding a boat safety demonstration Thursday at the Bass Pro Shop at the Gulf Coast Town Center. Spokesman Dan Eaton says too often people just seem to forget about the importance of a life jacket that is new and fits right.

“Unfortunately it does become one of those things that becomes out of sight out of mind…and what we need to turn around and do is build awareness, you know people have to turn around and look at the condition of their life jackets…and maybe it is time to turn around and change it.”

Eaton says along with the demonstration on Thursday, at 11:00 the Fit to Float campaign runs Friday through Sunday at the same bass pro shop store. That’s where people can turn in old life jackets for a discount toward a new one.