Our Coalition has expanded the “Kids Don’t Float, Lifejackets Do,” lifejacket loaner program to three new locations. The three new expansion sites, all located on Marco Island beaches, are: North Marriott, Crystal Shores and Residents. To celebrate this life saving initiative the Coalition hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Friday, February 2nd at 4 p.m. at Residence Beach, Marco Island.
In June 2013 a two year old was found floating face down in the water at Sugden Regional Park. A mere five minutes had elapsed without adult supervision. Had this child been wearing a life jacket, it would not have been a life altering event.
The our Coalition reacted to this child’s death by organizing a life jacket loaner program entitled “Kids Don’t Float— Give Them Something That Does” modeled after an initiative adopted in Alaska in 1997.
The goal of the program is to save children’s’ lives by making loaner life jackets available at popular beach/lake sites for children and adults to borrow and return. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 93, 95 and 96 check monthly the condition of the lifejackets. If any lifejackets are missing or in disrepair, they will be replaced.
Partners in the program include
1. Sprigg Yacht Consulting
2. Commissioner Donna Fiala
3. Dr. Todd Vedder
4. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliaries 93
5. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliaries 95
6. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliaries 96
7. Collier County Parks & Recreation
8. Lee & Penny Anderson
9. Chip & Lynne, Henley & Nelly, Duke, Winston & Vera Shotwell
10. Mikel & Keely Miller
11. Scott & Sue Dufford
12. Kiwanis club of East Naples
13. Neal Horrell
14. Lowe’s
15. Jon Levy and the BIG team at BIG Renovations & Design, Inc
16. Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club
17. AutoTran, Inc.
18. West Marine
19. Accent Signs
20. Marco Island Fire Rescue
21. Marco Island Civic Association
22. Collier County Sheriff’s Office
23. Stewie the Duck
Thank you to all these amazing partners and donors for helping us to make Collier County a safer place for the children.
Here are the 15 #LifeJacket loaner stations in Collier:
1. Sugden Park,
2. The historic Naples Pier,
3. Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
4. Gulf Shore Blvd Beach
5. Lowdermilk Park
6. Clam Pass,
7. Vanderbilt Beach,
8. Barefoot Beach
9. Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park
10. Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park
11. South Marco Island,
12. Tigertail Beach,
13. New — North Marriott,
14. New — Crystal Shores
15. New — Residents Beach
#Neverswimalone #Watchkidsbywater #WaterSafety #DrownignPrevention #Inthe239
Collier County has 15 “Kids Don’t Float, Life Jackets Do!” Life Jackets Loaner Stations in Collier County – Here is link to an interactive Google Map.
“LIFE JACKETS ARE NOT BABY-SITTERS, THE BEST METHOD TO PREVENT DROWNING IS SUPERVISION.”