èBella Magazine – Kelly Simard Sprigg – “Inspired Living Local Hero” Kids Dont Float Life Jackets Do! Life Jacket Loaner Program

Thank you èBella Magazine for selecting Kelly Simard Sprigg as one of the “Inspired Living Local Heroes” featured in the May magazine. Kelly and her husband, Steve, have been very instrumental with our life jacket loaner program, without their support this lifesaving program will not be possible in #CollierCounty

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. 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 weekly the condition of the life jackets. If any life jackets are missing or in disrepair, they will be replaced.Thank you to the following organizations to make this program possible Sprigg Yacht Consulting, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliaries 93,95 and 96, Collier County Parks & Recreation, Kiwanis Club of East Naples, AutoTran, Inc., West Marine#Neverswimalone #Watchkidsbywater #DrownignPrevention#Inthe239 #lifejackets #notmychild #neverswimalone #kidsdontfloatlifejacketsdo#DrowningPrevention #watersafety #Watersafetymonth
#notonemoredrowning #NDPA #SafetyAroundWater #WaterSmartFL