Life jackets available for kids at Kayak Park

A program to prevent drowning that lends life jackets free of charge is underway at Snohomish County's Kayak Point Park this summer.

The loaner life jacket cabinet, located at the park boat ramp, opened for the summer Fri., May 22. Life jackets for children as well as adults will be available for daily checkout through Labor Day weekend.

North County Regional Fire Authority is hoping to increase life jacket use by making them more accessible, said Battalion Chief Christian Davis.

"We hope that the program will make parents more aware of the need for close supervision when children are around water, he said. "We do not, however, want the life jackets to provide a false sense of security. Parents still need to keep a close watch on their children."

Drowning usually occurs quickly and silently, said Davis. Childhood drowning can happen in a matter of seconds and typically occurs when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision.

Life jacket use is recommended for:

• children 5 and under— on beaches, docks, in boats, rafts or inner tubes, and deep or swift water.

• children ages 6-11— on docks, boats, rafts, inner tubes and riverbanks.

• teens and adults— on boats, rafts or inner tubes.

"If someone appears to be in distress or things don't look right, please do not hesitate to call 911 and activate the water rescue team," Davis said. "In these situations, every second can count."

The life jacket loaner program is sponsored by North County Fire/EMS, along with Snohomish County Safe Kids Coalition.