SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In celebration of Safe Boating Week, members of the public are invited to trade in their old life jackets for a fresh, clean new one May 17 at any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District park.
Old jackets will be exchanged for a new U.S. Coast Guard-approved type III life jacket, courtesy of the California State Parks Division 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.”
"DBW encourages boaters to take part in this life saving program," said Sylvia O. Hunter, deputy director of DBW. "Life jackets that are too small will not be able to keep your body afloat. Life jackets that are too big will cause the device to push up around the face, which could be dangerous."
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 can be exchanged May 17 from noon to 2 p.m.:
Black Butte Lake Buckhorn Campground (Orland)
Eastman Lake Codorniz Campground Amphitheater (Raymond)
Englebright Lake (Smartsville)
Hensley Lake Buck Ridge and Hidden View Boat Launch Ramps (Raymond)
Lake Kaweah Lemon Hill Recreation Area (Lemon Cove)
New Hogan Lake Fiddleneck Recreation Area (Valley Springs)
Pine Flat Lake Deer Creek Recreation Area (Piedra)
Martis Creek Lake main boat ramp (Truckee)
Stanislaus River Parks Knights Ferry Visitor Center (Oakdale)
Success Lake Tule Recreation Area (Porterville)