Life Jacket Exchange Successful At Lake Havasu City

The Arizona Game And Fish Department recently held a life-jacket exchange event at London Bridge beach in Lake Havasu City.

Boaters with tattered and worn ski-vest type III life jackets could exchange them for new ones at the lake. The program helps to ensure boaters head out onto the water with life jackets that will keep them safe while on the state's waterways.

A Life - Perhaps Your Own - Could Be Saved

"It's not enough to simply have a life jacket accessible; it must also still have enough buoyancy to keep you floating," said Josh Hoffman, Arizona Game and Fish boating safety education coordinator. "Swapping your old life jacket out for a new one will ensure your time out on the water remains a fun one. Remember that by wearing a life jacket, the life you save could very well be your own."

On average, the typical life jacket in Arizona should be replaced every three to five years to help prevent passengers and swimmers from drowning.

84 Percent Of Drowning Victims Not Wearing PFDs

Drowning was the reported cause of death in 78 percent of the 610 recreational boating fatalities in 2014 nationwide, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Of those incidents, 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

Users should also check to make sure a life jacket fits properly by referring to the manufacturer's label, which should include a recommendation for the user's size and weight. Once wearing the life jacket, one needs to make sure there is no excess room above the openings of the jacket and that it does not ride up over your chin or face.

All boats in Arizona must have a life jacket aboard for every passenger and those 12 years old and younger must wear a life jacket at all times, under state law.

For more information on boating in Arizona or to sign up for a safety course, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/boating.

Did You Know?

The Arizona Game And Fish Department has trust responsibility for managing more than 800 native wildlife species - the most of any inland state - for current and future generations of Arizona citizens. https://azgfdportal.az.gov/Hunting/NAM

The Arizona Game And Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities.

If anyone believes that he or she has been discriminated against in any of the AGFD's programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.