This week the Baldwin County Commission approved a Life Jacket Loaner Program at boat launch facilities.Boaters who forget their life jackets will be able to bo
Baldwin County Commission approves Life Jacket Loaner Program at boat launch facilities This week the Baldwin County Commission approved a Life Jacket Loaner Program at boat launch facilities . Boaters who forget their life jackets will be able to borrow one thanks to this program.
The program is coming soon to seven locations across Baldwin County. County Engineer Frank Lundy says the idea was presented to the Baldwin County Commission after a law enforcement officer noticed a problem among boaters. "What he sees so often is boaters, whether he's writing a ticket or investigating a fatality, not wearing a life jacket and oftentimes boaters would just forget to bring a jacket with them,” said Lundy. “They get to the boat ramp or come to the landing and rather than going back home they just carried on with their day. Sometimes that ended in tragedy, other times it just ended in getting a ticket." Lundy says the county took action. It partnered with students at the North and South Baldwin Centers of Technology who built the storage boxes. He says the Sea Tow Foundation supplied the life jackets to help jump start the program. "What the concept is just to have a box there or a station to where if somebody did forget their life preserver that they could borrow one from an easy to access station near the ramp,” he said. “Use it for the day, put it back at the end of the day when they’re done."The amount of life jackets at each location will vary according to Lundy. There could be 5 to 15 life jackets per box. "Over the next few weeks, we'll begin installing and so they'll be populated over the next two to three weeks,” he said. “We really want to get ahead of the summer boating season." According to a report from the US Coast Guard there were 636 deadly boating accidents in 2022. In cases where a cause of death was determined, 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims 85% were not wearing a life jacket.Eventually there will be a way for people to participate in the program by donating life jackets. Lundy says that process will be outlined on the Baldwin County website.
Life Jacket Loaner Program Boat Launch Facilities Boaters Life Jackets Borrow Locations Program.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Baldwin Co. Commission introduces new partnership to encourage 'Vanpooling'As businesses in the area continue to grow and commute costs continue to increase, the Baldwin County Commission is creating improvements to the transit system
Read more »
Details released on standoff in Baldwin County that ended in suicideA suspect involved in a standoff on I-10 in Baldwin County shot themselves, according to BCSO.
Read more »
Baldwin County highway disrupted in standoff with Florida murder suspectAn incident that is being investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office has caused a lane closure.The westbound lanes of I-10 near the 40 mile maker in B
Read more »
Baldwin County beach restoration wrapping up with planting of half a million sea oatsFrom the time the plants are put in the sand, they begin to create a barrier for blowing sand to build up against. Contractors are finishing that up now along Gulf State Park’s 2.5 miles of beachfront.
Read more »
Baldwin County bike and walking path plan to connect 14 municipalitiesA collaborative effort to create a network of biking and pedestrian trails has been adopted by the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Organization.It is called the Bald
Read more »
Friday morning storms pack a punch in Baldwin CountyBaldwin EMC reported 12,000 meters out at the height of the storm while Riviera Utilities had 1,888.
Read more »