Life Jacket Loaner Station

Life Jacket Loaner Station Program

How can you help make Kentucky’s waterways safer for all to enjoy? Consider building a Life Jacket Loaner Station in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Kentucky’s lakes, rivers, and streams are popular destinations and receive heavy use from recreational boaters, paddlers, and swimmers. Tragically, lives are lost to drowning each year, and the overwhelming majority of the victims were not wearing a life jacket. Greater access to life jackets can prevent these tragedies. You can help by becoming a donor and installing a Life Jacket Loaner Station in your area.

Press Announcements -

Read more about Life Jacket Loaner Station's being built in your local community!

White Mills Partners for Life Jacket Loaner Program - Becca Owsley The News-Enterprise

State Law Requirements

Kentucky law requires that all vessels carry a life jacket for each person onboard and that it properly fits that person

Children younger than 12 years old must wear a life jacket that fits them at all times while in the open part of the boat that is underway.

CONTACT US:

Unlawful activity: Call 1-800-25-ALERT, or Text tip411 keyword "KFWLaw" with the details
Emergency: Call 9-1-1
Damaged life jackets: Call 1-800-858-1549

Process To Get A
Life Jacket Loaner Station

Follow these easy steps to get a Life Jacket Loaner Station in your area:

	Complete the Life Jacket Loaner Station Form.
	Coordinate construction with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
	Obtain building materials.
	Construct a station on your own or hire a contractor to build the station
	Develop a plan to periodically check that the Life Jacket Loaner Station is stocked with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, supplied by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, and is in good working order
	Submit a monthly report – reporting forms are available on the Boating page - the first of the month from May-September to marcus.bowling@ky.gov. Outside of this timeframe, reports may be submitted every other month

Donor Recognition

The donor's logo will be placed beside the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' logo on the front of the station's sign.
Dimensions of space reserved for the donor recognition are 13.5" x 13.5"
Dimensions of the donor sticker will be 6.5" x 4.25"

Other Details

QR code instructions will appear in English and Spanish
Scanning the QR code with a smart device camera will take the user to a webpage on the department's website. The webpage will include important boating safety information.
Material List and Estimate
Loaner Station Drawings

How to Properly Fit a

Life Jacket

in Four Easy Steps.

Check label for the correct weight or chest size.

The life jacket label will indicate the size and weight of the intended user. Ensure the wearer falls within these ranges. Verify that the life jacket label states it is "Coast Guard approved."

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Put the life jacket on.

Inspect the life jacket for wear and tear. Warning signs include rips, missing, or broken buckles or straps.

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Buckle all straps & tighten/zip up all zippers.

Ensure all straps can be buckled and zippers can be zipped. Don't forget the crotch strap if there is one!

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Check the fit of the life jacket on the wearer.

Have the wearer lift their arms over their head and gently lift them to the top of the life jacket arm openings. If the life jacket rides up above their ears, it's too big. The jacket is too small if the straps or zippers don't close.

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New Life Jacket Loaner Stations

Cedar Creek Lake

Girl Scouts from Troops 89 and 7326 teamed up to build a Life Jacket Loaner Station at the Old 150 boat ramp on Cedar Creek Lake. They completed this station for their Girl Scout Silver Award Project.

Girl Scout Troop installing Life Jacket Loaner Station

Group photograph showing six young women posing in front of a Life Jacket Loaner Station

Lake Reba

A ceremony to mark the opening of a life jacket loaner station built in memory of Emanuel “Manny” Prewitt, a 17-year-old Madison Central High School student who drowned in June 2020 at Herrington Lake, was held June 10, 2022, at Lake Reba in Madison County. Prewitt’s mother, Kelly, and supporters of the Swim Smart Manny Prewitt Legacy led the charge to build the kiosk.