ANNAPOLIS, Md., -- This
summer you can help children in your community stay safe on the water, but you
need to act soon. The BoatUS Foundation's Life Jacket
Loaner Program for kids, which helps parents, boaters and anglers get the
right-sized life jacket for youngsters at over 500 locations across the
country, is looking for sponsors for additional loaner sites. But you only have
until Sunday, March 31st, to apply at www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/LJLP.
"Children's growth spurts and last minute changes to the roster of invited
guests can conspire against you," said Outreach Manager Alanna Keating. "Our free program, which on average
loans out life jackets over 140,000 times each year for the day or weekend,
makes it easy." Since the program began nearly 20 years ago, at least
three children's lives have been saved.
There is no cost to host a loaner site but applications will only be accepted
until March 31st, 2013, and those that meet the program's guidelines will be
posted to the Foundation's Facebook page and website for public voting.
"The voting process allows us to best gauge those communities with the
greatest need for a loaner site," added Keating. "We also want applicants
to help spread the word about keeping kids safe with our life jackets."
This year's new sites are made possible by a generous donation from the
National Marine Bankers Association.
After public voting, each site that is accepted into the program will receive a
life jacket loaner "kit" - a protective container that holds various
sized life jackets for kids, signage, promotional materials and easy-to-use
sign-out sheets to track usage. The program is simple for those hosting a
loaner site as well as for boaters, anglers and sailors needing a kid's life
jacket. "All we ask for in return is that the life jackets are made
available at no cost to the boating public and kept a readily accessible but
secure location, and hosts periodically let BoatUS
know how the program is going.
To apply to become a Life Jacket Loaner Program site, or for more information
on the program or the life jacket laws in your state, please visit www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/LJLP.
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About the BoatUS Foundation:
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean
Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.
Funded primarily by the half-million members of BoatUS,
it provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers
with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of
America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. To make a tax-deductible
donation to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation.
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