Kerr-Buggs Island Safety Council
Life Jacket Loaner Program

Thanks to the following for assistance by providing grant or donations making Loaner PFD's available.

US Boat Foundation   Lotus Designs     Wal-mart of Henderson   Wal-Mart of  Farmville,  and    Kokatat. 

NOTICE.... Last year (2008) Both the US ACE and the NC State Parks suffered losses of life jackets due in large to a borrowing of the life jack and then not returning. This not only places a financial cost to both agencies but more importantly places a greater exposure to a drowning. Please be considerate of other lake users. Remember this: The jacket you take home could be the jacket that saves your neighbors life tomorrow.

Kids'  P.F.D.'S   ---   Did you know that there are P.F.D.'S designed specifically for children?

Kids come in different shapes and sizes and consequently have different safety needs. Be sure to select the appropriate P.F.D. for your child according to their size and weight. A  P.F.D. must fit snugly on a child. Lift the child by the shoulders of the P.F.D. -- if it's the correct size, the child's chin and ears will not slip thru.

Remember: a  P.F.D. is not a substitute for adult supervision.

Its the law in North Carolina; A person of less than 13 years of age must wear a P.F.D. that fits,  anytime the person is on a boat that is underway. Check with your local Wildlife officer for details or visit their web site.


                HISTORY

The Life Jacket Loaner Program is a program borrowed from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The concept behind the VDGIF is to provide boaters with extra Life Jackets when Game Wardens find boaters in violation of vessel safety requirements. The boater is given a Life Jacket and is instructed to return the Life Jackets when they depart the water. In 1998, the Kerr-Buggs Island Safety Council and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at John H. Kerr Reservoir adopted a program very similar. The KBI-Safety Council accepted donations from the Cuscowilla Association, and Steel Creek Marina. This enabled the Corps to implement the Life Jacket Loaner Program during 1999 recreation season. North Bend Day-Use and Rudds Creek Day-Use areas were used as a testing site for the program. Within the first month of the program, the 24 Life Jackets were loaned out over 200 times.

    How the Life Jacket Loaner program works

The Corps of Engineers operates the majority of their Day-Use attendant stations with contracted Gate Attendants. The Gate Attendants ask park visitors if they would be interested in borrowing a Life Jacket for the day, free of charge. The visitors are asked to fill out some basic information and instructed to return the Life Jacket when they depart the park. The Life Jackets are available in a variety of sizes, and all are U.S. Coast Guard Approved. The upcoming recreation season holds great things for the visitors to John H. Kerr Reservoir and for the Life Jacket Loaner Program. The Kerr Buggs Island Safety Council with donations from Roanoke River Basin Association and through grants from BoatUS, will enable the Corps of Engineers to equip most designated swimming areas on the project with Life Jackets. This will provide hundreds of thousands of visitors with access to free Life Jackets and continue the Corps' efforts to prevent drownings.

We are continually inspecting our Life Jackets and insuring that they are in proper working condition.  However, over the years the wear and tear has caused many PFDs to be retired.  BoatUS continues to help replenish our supply of Infant and Child size Life Jackets. Yet, we are currently in need of Adult size Life Jackets and would greatly appreciate any donations.  If you would like to make a contribution to this worthwhile program, please contact Justin E. Elmore at 434-738-6143, Ext.156

Just remember when you bring your family out to John H. Kerr Reservoir  this summer, ask for a Life Jacket! It may just save your life!


1930 Mays Chapel Rd
Boydton, VA 23917
434-738-6143, Ext. 156