Simply having the right number of PFD aboard may not be adequate in
case of emergency. The proper sizes are also very important. Small kids
can slip out of adult life jackets, and adults have drowned after
trying to cut the straps, etc, on jackets that were too small to fit
their adult torsos.

If you have some "extra" kids show up for a summer cruise and need
additional life jackets, there are loaner jackets available in a lot of
the marinas. One of the organizations that sponsor such programs is
Boat US, and they just sent out a press release announcing the location
of additional new sites where boaters can borrow life jackets for kids:




NEWS From BoatU.S.
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatU.S. News Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/news/releases.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Chris Edmonston, 410-897-0512,
Date: May 8, 2006

BOATU.S. FOUNDATION OPENS 45 NEW KIDS LIFE JACKET LOANER SITES
Now Over 400 Locations Nationwide

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 a child'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

Minnesota: 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

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