It is designed to educate all boaters on the significance of wearing the appropriate size and type of life jacket while boating. This program will be helpful to those who are unprepared for small children visiting and give them access to easily borrow a proper life jacket at no charge. The life jacket storage bins will be placed in a centralized area such as near a boating ramp, in a marina office, or near a fuel dock. The boater then merely checks out the life jacket for a day or a weekend and returns it to the same location during established operating hours. Marine patrol units from selected states will distribute free life jackets to children who are not wearing a life jacket on the water.
Many states require children under a specified age to wear a proper sized life jacket while boating.
Having free children's vests available will not only provide immediate protection for the child, but the vessel operator will not be forced off the water for non-compliance. The Foundation hopes to impact the safety of the nation's boaters through programs like these, which directly give back to the boating public. All Rights Reserved.