World's largest Life Jacket Loaner Program to open 1,000th location
by Sea Tow Foundation 21 Sep 2022 01:21 BST
September 22, 2022
Sea Tow Foundation © Jeremy Frechette
The Sea Tow Foundation with support from MarineMax will host a ribbon cutting ceremony opening its 1,000th Life Jacket Loaner Stand.
The Sea Tow Foundation, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting boating safety. MarineMax, the world's largest recreational boat and yacht retail company and champion of boating safety. Sea Tow Services International, the leading on-water assistance provider.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Capt. Michael Kahle, Commander of US Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg
- Brian Rehwinkel, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
- 3Charlie Justice, Pinellas County Commissioner
- Peg Phillips, National Safe Boating Council Executive Director
When: Thursday, September 22 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater, FL (201 Seminole St. Clearwater, FL 33755)
Why: Florida leads the nation in the number of boating accidents every year. Of people who die in boating accidents, 81% drown, and 83% of those deaths could have been prevented if the people were wearing a life jacket. The Sea Tow Foundation developed the Life Jacket Loaner Program in 2008 and now has loaner stations in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., American Samoa and the Virgin Islands, and has provided over 90,0000 life jackets for boaters to borrow to help prevent drowning.