Pinecrest Lake in Tuolumne County
Trading in your old life jacket may save your life
May 15, 2015 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) will hold life jacket trade-in events at various locations throughout the state during the month of May. The first events will be held tomorrow, May 16.
“Boating accident statistics repeatedly show that properly-fitted life jackets improve the chances of surviving an accident,” said Ramona Fernandez, California’s Boating Law Administrator. “DBW invites you to participate in a trade-in event to ensure a proper fit of your life jacket. A life jacket that is too large or too small can cause different situational problems.”
These life jacket trade-in events give water enthusiasts the opportunity to have their life jackets inspected by professionals. If a life jacket is found to be outgrown or unserviceable, a new, properly fitted Coast Guard-approved life jacket will be given in exchange (while supplies last).
Dates and locations for the life jacket trade-in events can be found on DBW’s website.
Each year hundreds of boaters lose their lives in the U.S., and they may still be alive if they had been wearing a life jacket. You never know when there may be a boating mishap, so it is important that everyone onboard a boat always wears a life jacket.
California boating law requires all children under the age of 13, every person on board a personal watercraft (Jet Ski), or being towed behind a vessel to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. The law also requires boat operators to have life jackets on their vessel for each person on board.
Please visit www.WearItCalifornia.com to view more information on life jackets, life jacket loaner stations, boating laws and boating safety information.
California State Parks
To provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.
www.parks.ca.gov
DBW
DBW is a division within California State Parks. The division provides safe and convenient public access to California’s waterways and leadership in promoting safe, enjoyable and environmentally sound recreational boating.
www.dbw.parks.ca.gov
