WMFR's Life Jacket Loaner Program Intends to Save Lives at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood

A Life Jacket Loaner Program at Bear Creek Lake Park aims to save lives this summer swim season. Funded by a grant from SafeKids, West Metro Fire Rescue has partnered with Bear Creek Lake Park and will loan a free life jacket to any child willing to wear one. 
 
West Metro Fire Fighters recall the tragic death of a 5-year-old boy in the lake last summer who lost his life after drowning near the swim beach. Fire fighters don't want to see that happen again. That's why West Metro Fire Rescue wrote a grant for funding to buy the life jackets and set them up at the Swim Beach and boat dock.  The program has been up and running for two weekends now and it's receiving rave reviews from parents and kids alike.
 
Kids Don’t Float, a water safety program that aims to prevent child drowning deaths, was launched at 19 locations across the United States in May. The lifejacket loaner program is modeled after a highly successful one in Alaska that uses lifejacket loaner stations near docks and open water to give kids access to personal flotation devices (PFDs). It includes an educational component aimed at children ages 8-14. The loaner boards provide life jackets for patrons to borrow while they are visiting the park. They simply hang the life jacket back on the peg when they are done using it. 

West Metro Fire Rescue installed two separate loaner board stations are operating at Bear Creek Lake Park - one  at the park's boat launch and one near the swim beach.  The life jackets may be used on children who are fishing and playing around the water, as well as those on boats. Children at the beach are much more visible and better protected in the life jackets, since the beach water is dark and murky.  Initially, 12 life jackets were put out and soon need demanded another 10. Even more lifejackets are on backorder to accommodate older children.  West Metro was overwhelmed by the willingness of children and parents to use the lifejackets. Due to the response, West Metro is now seeking ways to fund the purchase of about 100 more lifejackets at the swim beach and another 25 at the boat launch.

Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death to children ages 1 to 14 years. Life jackets can help prevent children from drowning.  Please consider putting life jackets on your kids when they are around open water.  Educators from West Metro Fire Rescue partnered with staff at Bear Creek Lake Park and members of Safe Kids Denver Metro to put up the life jacket loaner board stations and to conduct educational sessions for kids and their parents. Look for our staff and the life jacket loaner board stations at Bear Creek Lake Park this summer.

HOW TO PROPERLY FIT A LIFE VEST
Choose the appropriate size Life Vest for each child (tag inside has weight range info)
Put the vest on the child
Make sure the vest is the right size:
Child is within the weight limits
The vest is not too loose (to prevent slipping out)
The vest is not too tight (it can be buckled or zipped closed)
The vest cannot be pulled up past the child’s ears.

IMPORTANT: Have the child lift arms over head to make the “touchdown” sign.  If the life vest pulls up past his/her ears, it’s too big, if it stays in place it fits.
 
West Metro Fire Rescue hopes children (and their parents) will make the wise choice to wear a life jacket while swimming or playing near water. That's the only way, they say, to increase your odds of surviving a drowning accident.

For more information on water safety check out the Safe Kids website.
 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, June 2, 2008
 
CONTACT:
Cindy Matthews,  303-540-3373
Micki Trost, 303-855-5286
Michelle French,891-8476