Life Jacket Loaner Program
15 “Kids Don’t Float, Life Jackets Do!” Life Jackets Loaner Stations in Collier County
Collier County has 15 “Kids Don’t Float, Life Jackets Do!” Life Jackets Loaner Stations in Collier County – Here is link to an interactive Google Map.
Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida on September 28th, 2022. Impacts of the storm caused all of our life jacket loaner stands to be damaged or destroyed. Our Coalition partners came together to rebuild 15 brand new life jacket loaner stands. As of May 11th, 2023, all of the brand-new life jacket loaner stands have been delivered to our Collier beaches and parks. We are thrilled to be able to bring back the stands to help keep families safe around water. See the list of life jacket loaner stand locations below:
- Sugden Park
- The Historic Naples Pier
- 5th Ave S.
- Gulf Shore Blvd Beach
- Lowdermilk Park
- Clam Pass
- Vanderbilt Beach
- Barefoot Beach
- Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park Lot 1
- Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park Lot 2
- South Marco island
- Tigertail Beach #1
- Tigertail Beach #2-South End
- Crystal Shores
- Residents Beach
2023 Life jacket Loaner Sponsors & Supporters
Thank You!
Accent Signs
Auto-Tran
Boy Scouts Troop 243
City of Naples
Collier CARES
Collier County Parks and Recreation
Collier County Public Schools
Collier County Sheriff’s Office
Florida Department of Health-Collier County
Marco Island Fire Rescue
Naples Children and Education Foundation
NCH Healthcare System
Rotary Club of Naples
Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation
US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas
West Marine
History
In June 2013 a two year old was found floating face down in the water at Sugden Regional Park. A mere five minutes had elapsed without adult supervision. Had this child been wearing a life jacket, it would not have been a life altering event.
Our Coalition reacted to this child’s death by organizing a life jacket loaner program entitled “Kids Don’t Float— Give Them Something That Does” modeled after an initiative adopted in Alaska in 1997.
The goal of the program is to save children’s’ lives by making loaner life jackets available at popular beach/lake sites for children and adults to borrow and return. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 93, 95 and 96 check monthly the condition of the lifejackets. If any lifejackets are missing or in disrepair, they will be replaced.