Life jacket trade-in at Corps parks

Published May 8, 2013
If your life jacket is ill-fitting, ripped, bleached out or just old and ugly, exchange it for a brand new U.S. Coast Guard-approved type III life jacket during the Life Jacket Trade-in, May 24, at select U.S. Army Corps of Engineer parks in the Sacramento District and other locations throughout the state. This event is sponsored by the California Department of Boating and Waterways. (Photo courtesy California Department of Boating and Waterways)

If your life jacket is ill-fitting, ripped, bleached out or just old and ugly, exchange it for a brand new U.S. Coast Guard-approved type III life jacket during the Life Jacket Trade-in, May 24, at select U.S. Army Corps of Engineer parks in the Sacramento District and other locations throughout the state. This event is sponsored by the California Department of Boating and Waterways. (Photo courtesy California Department of Boating and Waterways)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 8, 2013) – Bring your old, tired, mustard-stained life jacket to a participating U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District park May 24 and we’ll give you a fresh, new U.S. Coast Guard-approved type III life jacket in return – courtesy of the California Department of Boating and Waterways.

“Life jackets that are sun-bleached, punctured, dried out or exposed to strong solvents can become less effective as life-saving devices,” said Jonathan Friedman, senior district park ranger for the Sacramento District. “Through this program, our boaters and swimmers can receive a fresh, new U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket to begin this new season on the water.”

“It is also vital that your life jacket fits you properly,” said Friedman. “Our Corps rangers will be happy to make sure you have the proper size water safety equipment.”

"This is the 14th year of our life jacket exchange program," said Sylvia Ortega Hunter, DBW's acting director. "Celebrate Safe Boating Week with a modern, safe life jacket -- perfect for active sports on the water."

Full information including how to properly fit a life jacket and the state-wide locations where you can participate in the life jacket exchange can be found here http://www.wearitcalifornia.com and at http://www.dbw.ca.gov/BoaterInfo/LifeJacketTradeIn.aspx

Following are the Sacramento District park locations where life jackets will be exchanged:

Black Butte Lake        Buckhorn Campground                      May 24

Eastman Lake            Codorniz Campground Amphitheater May 24 (6-8 p.m.)

Hensley Lake             Hidden View Boat Ramp                     May 24

Lake Kaweah              Lemon Hill Recreation Area               June 8

New Hogan Lake        Fiddleneck Recreation Area               May 24 (4-6 p.m.)

Pine Flat Lake             Deer Creek Recreation Area             May 24

Martis Creek Lake      Main boat ramp                                   May 24

Stanislaus River Parks    Knights Ferry Visitor Center           May 24 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

Success Lake               Tule Recreation Area                        May 24 


Contact
Robert Kidd
916-557-5100
robert.d.kidd@usace.army.mil

Release no. 13-028