Life Jackets
When used appropriately, life jackets protect you when you are not expecting to be in the water, especially around open water. Ensure your life jackets are tested & approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
USCG tested and approved life jackets should be worn by everyone, when in or around open/natural bodies of water, and when boating. Life jackets should be sized appropriately for the wearer.
When other layers of protection may break down, life jackets can help prevent unintentional drowning.
Important Reminders
- Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved.
- Double check that your life jacket is appropriate for the water activities that you and your loved ones will be participating in. Read the label!
- Take the time to ensure a proper fit: right size and right weight rating.
- Check your life jacket – make sure it is in good serviceable condition, with no tears or holes.
- Life jackets are not swim lesson aids. However, exposure to life jackets during swimming lessons teaches a child how it should fit, and how it feels and performs in the water.
- The main thing to remember is that a life jacket is just one of the layers of drowning prevention. Children who have learned to swim or are comfortable in the water or in a life jacket still need other layers of drowning protection, including close supervision, fencing barriers, and lifeguards or water watchers.
Life Jacket Loaner Program
14 “Kids Don’t Float, Life Jackets Do!” Life Jackets Loaner Stations in Collier County
Collier County has 14 “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 14 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:
- Barefoot Beach
- Barefoot Beach Preserve
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Lot 1
- Vanderbilt Beach
- Clam Pass Beach
- North Gulf Shore Beach
- Lowdermilk Beach Park
- Naples Pier
- Sugden Regional Park
- Tigertail Beach (2 locations)
- Residents’ Beach (Marco Island)
- Marco Beach Access – Maple Ave
- South Beach Marco – Winterberry Drive
- South Beach Marco – Swallow Ave
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.