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Safe at Sea: Borrow life jackets for free

By ED HOLDEN 2 min read
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AMERICA'S BOATING CLUB OF SANIBEL-CAPTIVA
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The season is upon us! Here on the islands, this means a gradual but steady increase in the number of visitors we will all have.

Thanks to the Life Jacket Loaner program, centrally located at Sanibel Fire and Rescue District’s Station 171 at 2351 Palm Ridge Road, everyone can get “suited up for safety” for a day on the water.

Years ago, the America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva received a grant from the SeaTow Foundation to establish the program on the islands. If you are not familiar with the program, here are the details:

– Life jackets of all sizes are available to everyone who temporarily needs one.

– They are located right inside the fire station.

– There is no “sign up/sign out.” In fact, all that you need to do is return the jacket or jackets whenever you no longer need the equipment.

So, if you have family or guests in town and need an extra jacket, or if your life jackets are not in good repair, or grandchildren have outgrown the life jackets you have, you can borrow one for the day or week. The sizes available range from infant to extra large adult.

Remember, the U.S. Coast Guard requires that a properly fitting life jacket be available for every member aboard your boat and that anyone under age 13 must wear a jacket at all times while on board, unless they are in an enclosed cabin. Actually, the Coast Guard recommends that everyone wear a life jacket while the boat is underway.

The Sea Tow Foundation also rents EPIRBs and PLB Beacons. For more information, visit https://www.boatingsafety.com/.

Be safe on the waters and be sure you have the proper safety equipment on board to deal with any on the-water emergencies.

Ed Holden is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more information, visit www.sancapboating.club.