Goals:
The goal of this program is to supply individuals with life jackets that are safe and appropriate for their individual size in order to reduce the drowning and non-fatal drowning incidents in Colorado.

Objectives:

• Increase number of children wearing life jackets during water activities.
  
• Increase parent/adult knowledge about life jacket use and fitting.
  
• Raise awareness about the use of life vests in variety of settings throughout the region (i.e. lakes, rivers, state parks, city pools, etc.)
  

Description:
Mackenzie’s Mission, in partnership with public and private entities, plans to make life jackets available to the public on a loan basis.

Mackenzie’s Mission will provide life jackets & educational information to various locations so that an individual or family can check it out for a day or the weekend by simply completing a loan form. Each station will have life jackets for children and adults. Information regarding properly fitting a life jacket will be located on the loaner boards.

Training with staff at the locations will be completed, both in regards to the program specifics, but also life jacket and water safety information.

Impact:
Currently, there are no known life jacket loaner programs in Northern Colorado. Having funding support for this program will make a large impact in this area because it will ensure that both residents and those in Colorado to participate in the outdoor recreational opportunities have access to appropriate, safe and fitting life jackets.

This program will allow Mackenzie’s Mission to reach out to all ages and socio-economic status'.

Each location with a loaner board with include promotional and educational fliers. This will allow for increased knowledge in those who do not require the use of a loaner life jacket, but may not know about proper fitting techniques or water safety issues.

With your help, Mackenzie’s Mission will reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents!

How You Can Help This Program:
Mackenzie’s Mission needs:

• Life vests, loaner boards, onsite signs, pens, clipboards
• Volunteers to assist with maintaining the loaner boards
• Press releases
• Printing, and copying services
• Volunteers to assist with life jacket checkout
• Volunteers to check quantity and condition of life jackets on regular basis

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