(Port Sanilac) – Families enjoying the water can borrow life jackets in Sanilac County, thanks to a new program organized by Safe Kids Greater Thumb and Saginaw Area. The Life Jacket Loaner Program provides life jackets at Forester Park, Port Sanilac Marina and at Patrick Tierney Park in Lexington.
Matt and Jen Gezequel got the ball rolling about two years ago, and the cabinets opened Memorial Day weekend. The jackets are in blue cabinets and are available through an honor system. Sizing directions based on weight are printed on signs on the cabinets.
The couple saw the need for the program after noticing families at the beach who did not have the proper safety equipment. In his duties as Port Sanilac Public Safety Director, Gezequel has dealt with near-drowning incidents and worked with the Sanilac County Dive Team for body recoveries.
Families have used the system, and Matt said he recently met a child who could enjoy the water thanks to a borrowed life jacket.
The program is based on a program in Alaska called Kids Don’t Float. Program coordinators in Alaska were delighted to find that citizens bought life jackets to replace the worn-out ones. Gezequel said it would be great if something similar happened in Sanilac County.
Life jackets will be maintained and replaced as needed by the Sanilac County Child Abuse Prevention Council and SAVE Partnership. Both organizations awarded grants to get the program started. Students in the Sanilac Career Center’s construction program have built the cabinets. The Gezequels’ will store the life jackets and lock the cabinets during the winter.
There is more that caregivers should do to prevent drowning or water-related injuries, according to a press release. Matthew Gezequel emphasized that having a “water watcher card” is the most important. When more than one caregiver is available, each take a 15- or 20-minute distraction-free shift with the card to watch children in the water. It is best to take short shifts so adults don’t lose focus. Water watcher cards can be downloaded from safekids.org.
Other preventative measures mentioned include enrolling children in swimming lessons, not allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages while boating, and not swimming near docks or marinas with electrical hookups or lighting. Children should not operate or ride personal watercraft. Adults should learn child and infant CPR, and those operating a water vehicle should pass a boating safety course approved by the Coast Guard.
Port Sanilac Department of Public Safety is the lead agency for the Safe Kids Greater Thumb and Saginaw Area. The Gezequels are hoping the program will expand to other beaches and counties. The Safe Kids Greater Thumb and Saginaw Area coalition has worked in 23 counties across the state, providing car seat checks, safety workshops and sports clinics.
