Life jackets on loan safety help for children

Now through February 20, 2004 the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water is looking for new locations to become lending sites for its free Life Jacket Loaner Program. The program loans out children's life jackets - from readily accessible sites such as marinas, boat clubs and other waterfront businesses - to boaters who have a temporary need for a kid's life jacket for the day or weekend. There is no cost to become a loaner site as funding comes from BoatU.S. member donations.

Presently, over 300 clubs and businesses participate as Life Jacket Loaner Program sites, which have loaned out life jackets over 50,000 times since the program began in 1997. The loaner life jackets come in kits of 12 jackets, and include signs and an easy-to-use sign-out sheet to track usage. Three sizes are included for children up to 90 pounds.

Ruth Wood, President of the BoatU.S. Foundation said, " The new U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulation that takes effect this year, in combination with previous state laws, now means that all 50 sates have some type of child life jacket law. Our program not only saves lives but can prevent a ticket as well," added Wood.

For information on the laws in New York state and to download an application to become a Life Jacket Loaner Program site, visit http://www.BoatU.S.com/Foundation/LJLP Applications that have been approved will be announced in spring 2004.

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit education and research organization funded by the voluntary contributions of 550,000 members of BoatU.S., the nation's largest recreational boat owners association. For more information o making a year-end tax-deductible donation too help programs like these afloat, go to http://ww.BoatU.S.com/Foundation.