The Utah Department of Natural Resources implemented a statewide expansion of its life jacket loaner stations to kick off this summer's boating season.
Teaming up with the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, Utah Division of State Parks, Intermountain Children's Health and other local leadership, natural resource leaders distributed more than 1,000 life jackets to 23 state parks, marinas and reservoirs at stock stations statewide.
"We're really pushing for zero fatalities this year," Chris Haramoto, Deputy Director of Utah state parks, said. "Unfortunately, we see too many of these accidents happen every single year, and many of them could be prevented by simply wearing a life jacket."
This initiative will provide life jackets for visitors to borrow free of charge. Every Utah state park with water recreation will have these loaner stations available.
Ty Hunter, the boating program manager for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, stated that stations will help remove barriers that may keep them from being safe and wearing a life jacket.
"A lot of families get ready for a trip and realize once they get to the lake that they forgot their life jackets," Hunter said. "This removes that barrier and gives people the opportunity to stay safe while still enjoying the water."
Hunter said comfort and accessibility are important factors alongside encouraging people to regularly wear life jackets.
"You don't wear shoes that are uncomfortable," Hunter said. "A life jacket should fit like a good pair of shoes... comfortable and something you want to wear."
Intermountain Children's Health partnered in the initiative to educate families on water safety and how to properly wear a life jacket. Children's health program manager Michelle Jamison said drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable injury deaths among children.
Jamison explained that life jackets should always be U.S Coast Guard approved and selected based on weight, not age.
"You want it snug," Jamison said. "You're going to give it a nice tug, simulating if you jumped into the water.'
She explained that if the life jacket goes above the child's ears, it's too big. She encouraged parents to always check if the life jacket is properly fitted before getting in the water.
"The most important thing about a life jacket is they don't do you any good unless you wear them," Hunter said.
In addition to life jackets, supervision around water is crucial. Jamison encouraged parents to become designated 'water watchers,' or a designated adult focused solely on watching children in and around the water.