Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death among children between 1 and 4 years of age, with almost 400 cases reported in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the US, an average of 3,500 to 4,000 people drown per year. That is an average of 10 fatal drownings per day.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children. Young children aren’t the only ones affected. Overall, it ranks fifth for unintentional injury death in the United States. More than 50 percent of drowning victims who are treated at emergency departments require extended hospitalization or long-term care.
WHAT CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?
Sponsor a Life Jacket Loaner Station.
This program began in 1997 in Alaska to reduce the number of drownings on boats. It has expanded to beaches, lakes and anywhere where families and children gather near the water. Families borrow a life jacket, use it, and put it back when done. The station costs approximately $1,500 unless donations are received to reduce the cost. Many of these stations have lumber donated by Lowe’s or Home Depot with private builders donating their labor. Some of the stations have been built by the parks and recreation departments of the county. West Marine gives a deep discount on the life jackets, costing approximately $25 per jacket with 20 jackets per station. Life jackets need to be checked on a regular basis for wear and tear, and need to be replaced often if in the hot sun.
The sign above the station indicates that “Kids Don’t Float, Give Them Something That Does.” An additional sign lists the donors of the station.
Kids life jacket are available in three sizes…infant(0-30 lb.), child (30-50lb.), and youth (50-90 lb.) at West Marine.
https://www.westmarine.com/stores/portland-me-84
Or at Amazon Prime.
The Scarborough, Maine Kiwanis Club was fortunate to have the life jackets donated by a local business.
The Club has placed a Life Jacket Loaner Station near a boat ramp at a local beach. The Town of Scarborough bears liability insurance while the Club checks on the station weekly to keep it in neat order.
This project is popular in Florida, especially in Collier County. Tolearn more about Collier County’s life jacket loaner stations, go to:
This new project provides an excellent opportunity for your
Kiwanis Club to apply for a Kiwanis Foundation of New England (KFNE) grant for up to $1000. This is a new and innovative project. You can find the application at www.kfne.org. You must complete the specific questions as indicated in the application.
I hope you agree that this is a valuable and relatively easy project to complete. For a small investment many lives may be saved.
Posted: June 3, 2022 by Will Bradford
Young Children Newsletter: June 2022
Good morning fellow Kiwanians!
DROWNING PREVENTION
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death among children between 1 and 4 years of age, with almost 400 cases reported in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the US, an average of 3,500 to 4,000 people drown per year. That is an average of 10 fatal drownings per day.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children. Young children aren’t the only ones affected. Overall, it ranks fifth for unintentional injury death in the United States. More than 50 percent of drowning victims who are treated at emergency departments require extended hospitalization or long-term care.
WHAT CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?
Sponsor a Life Jacket Loaner Station.
This program began in 1997 in Alaska to reduce the number of drownings on boats. It has expanded to beaches, lakes and anywhere where families and children gather near the water. Families borrow a life jacket, use it, and put it back when done. The station costs approximately $1,500 unless donations are received to reduce the cost. Many of these stations have lumber donated by Lowe’s or Home Depot with private builders donating their labor. Some of the stations have been built by the parks and recreation departments of the county. West Marine gives a deep discount on the life jackets, costing approximately $25 per jacket with 20 jackets per station. Life jackets need to be checked on a regular basis for wear and tear, and need to be replaced often if in the hot sun.
The sign above the station indicates that “Kids Don’t Float, Give Them Something That Does.” An additional sign lists the donors of the station.
Kids life jacket are available in three sizes…infant(0-30 lb.), child (30-50lb.), and youth (50-90 lb.) at West Marine.
Or at Amazon Prime.
The Scarborough, Maine Kiwanis Club was fortunate to have the life jackets donated by a local business.
The Club has placed a Life Jacket Loaner Station near a boat ramp at a local beach. The Town of Scarborough bears liability insurance while the Club checks on the station weekly to keep it in neat order.
This project is popular in Florida, especially in Collier County. To learn more about Collier County’s life jacket loaner stations, go to:
This new project provides an excellent opportunity for your
Kiwanis Club to apply for a Kiwanis Foundation of New England (KFNE) grant for up to $1000. This is a new and innovative project. You can find the application at www.kfne.org. You must complete the specific questions as indicated in the application.
I hope you agree that this is a valuable and relatively easy project to complete. For a small investment many lives may be saved.
Ava Adams, District Chair
Committee on Young Children
New England and Bermuda District
Scarborough Mine Kiwanis
Email: [email protected]
Category: Young Children Newsletter
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