The Sea Tow Foundation has docked a new initiative at three locations in Louisiana, offering boaters a safety net in the form of free life jacket loaner stations. These stations play a dual role: ensuring that boaters comply with state regulations and enhancing the safety of their time on the water. It's a straightforward solution to a potentially deadly oversight—arriving at the water's edge and realizing that there aren't enough personal flotation devices (PFDs) for everyone on board.
The life jacket loaner program allows, at the last minute, to borrow the needed PFDs for a day's outing, encouraging boaters to remain within the embrace of safety regulations. "This is a great program that we hope people will utilize as it helps boaters adhere to current safe boating regulations and most importantly help keep them safe while on the water," said Col. Stephen Clark, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division, in a statement obtained by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries news release.
In Louisiana, PFD regulations require that all vessels must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD that is properly fitted, readily available for every passenger onboard. For young boaters under the age of 17, wearing a PFD is mandatory when on vessels shorter than 26 feet. Despite these clear rules set to buoy the safety of those engaging with the state's waterways, the reality has often been grim.
From 2020-24, recreational boating in Louisiana was marked by 96 fatalities. In a statistic that is hard to just look past, 78 of these deaths, equivalent to 81%, involved individuals not wearing a PFD. The stark numbers serve the undercurrent, reminding that these life-saving apparatuses are not merely accessories but essentials. Clark expressed further intentions saying, "We hope to add more of these stations in the near future," giving a nod to the necessity and success of this life-preserving initiative.
