BoatU.S. Looking For New PFD Loaner Program Sites

Arizona Has None At Present

AZBW NEWS SERVICE — 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.

Presently, over 328 clubs and businesses across the country participate as Life Jacket Loaner Program sites, which have loaned out life jackets over 50,000 times since the program began in 1997. About 40 new sites are selected each year, BoatU.S. said.

Since the program began, three children’s lives have been saved as a result of wearing a loaner life jacket, BoatU.S. said.

The loaner life jackets come in kits of 12 jackets in a protective container, signage, and easy-to-use sign-out sheets to track usage. Three sizes are included for children up to 90 pounds.

According to BoatU.S., there are no life jacket loaner sites in Arizona.

The deadline for submitting an application to become a lending site is Feb. 21. An application to become a Life Jacket Loaner Program site may be downloaded at http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/LJLP.

Applications that have been approved will be announced in the spring, BoatU.S. said.

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water is a national nonprofit education and research organization primarily funded by the voluntary contributions of the members of BoatU.S.