The BoatU.S. Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Program For Kids added 45 new sites to its nationwide program that provides a simple way for parents to borrow a properly sized children's life jacket at launch ramps, marinas and waterfront businesses. ( See complete list below.)
Since its inception nine years ago, the program has saved the lives of at least three children. It is estimated that BoatU.S. life jackets are loaned out more than 50,000 times a year. Every state now has at least one life jacket loaner location .
"Having life jackets for everyone aboard means having a life jacket that fits everyone," said Chris Edmonston, director of boating safety for the BoatU.S. Foundation. "An oversized vest can easily slip off over the wearer's head, so that's where we can help boaters with our Loaner Program. We make it easy by bringing children's life jackets right to the waterfront where boaters need them and they are absolutely free. Once the family is done enjoying the water, they simply return the jacket," he added.
The Foundation provides each new loaner site with a "kit" of 12 life jackets (a selection of infant, child, and youth jacket sizes), protective storage bin, sign-out sheets and program signage, allowing hundreds of children all summer long to safely enjoy an afternoon, day or weekend on a boat with their families and friends.
The BoatU.S Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research organization primarily funded by the voluntary contributions of 640,000 members of BoatU.S. The Foundation operates more than a dozen programs including the only accredited, free, online general boating safety course, a low-cost EPIRB rental program, the "Help Stop the Drops" national clean fueling campaign, a free kid's Life Jacket Loaner Program, and has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for nonprofit groups for boating safety and environmental projects.
Businesses or organizations interested in participating can next apply to the program in the fall of 2006 by going to http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/LJLP
NEW BOATU.S. FOUNDATION LIFE JACKET LOANER SITES
Alabama: That Hotdog Place, Pinson
Arizona:
Pleasant Harbor Marina, Peoria
Tempe Town Lake, Tempe
Arkansas:
Self Creek Lodge and Marina, Kirby
California:
Drowning Accident Rescue Team, Sacramento
Sacramento Fire Department, Site 1, Sacramento
Sacramento Fire Department, Site 2, Sacramento
City of San Francisco Recreation & Park, San Francisco
USCG Auxiliary, Redding
Connecticut:
Cedar Marina, Bridgeport
Florida:
TowBoatU.S. Cape Coral, Cape Coral
Illinois:
Quinsippi Yacht Club, Quincy
Indiana:
Municipal Marina, Portage
Kentucky:
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Louisville
State Dock Marina Services, Jamestown
Louisiana:
Murray Yacht Sales, Metairie
Massachusetts:
Jesse's Marine, Plymouth
Maine:
The Waterfront Marine, Hampden
Michigan:
Walstrom Marine, Sheboygan
TowBoatU.S. Bay City, Bay City
Burt Township Marina, Grand Marais
Missouri:
TowBoatU.S. Lake of the Ozarks
Mississippi:
Madison Fire Department, Madison
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fulton
North Dakota:
Southwest Coalition of Safe Communities, Dickinson
Nevada:
Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina, Search Light
New Mexico:
Navajo Lake Marina, Navajo Dam
New York:
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Ogdensburg
Ohio:
Romp's Water Port, Vermilion
Oregon:
Charleston Marina, Charleston
Sunlake Marina, Lakeside
Pennsylvania:
Shenango River Lake, Hermitage
Tennessee:
US Army Corps of Engineers, Celina
Dale Hollow Lake, Celina
Texas:
Walden Marina, Montgomery
Utah:
Bear Lake State Park Marina, Garden City
Jordanelle State Park Marina, Heber City
Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane
Utah Lake State Park Marina, Provo
Hall's Crossing Marina, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Virginia:
Mitchell's Point Gas Dock & Boat Rentals, Moneta
Vermont:
Champlain Marina, Colchester
Washington:
Fort Flagler State Park, Nordland
Wisconsin:
Firehouse Dock Marina/Ephraim Yacht Club, Ephraim
Wyoming:
Forever Resorts, Moran
