LJ 11 Increase Access to Life Jacket Loaner Stations

Evidence:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has established a LJL (life jacket loaner) program that they offer at their USACE lakes and waterways. USACE research indicates that 90% of drownings at USACE sites could have been prevented if a life jacket had been worn by the victim. They have established life jacket loaner programs to increase wear and educate the public on the importance of life jackets. USACE recommends the development of a national life jacket loaner program. There is evidence indicating that wearing a life jacket may decrease drowning deaths among boaters by 50%. Additionally, research has found that increased life jacket wear lowers fatality rates across all spectrums of activities, and survivability rates among those wearing life jackets up to 94%. Research has shown that life jacket wear significantly decreases with increasing age. A study with close to 2,000 individuals found that children less than 6 years old had the highest use of some type of flotation (66%), and that they had the highest use of life jackets (50.5%). Children less than 13 years old were more likely to use flotation devices and life jackets than teens; boys were more likely than girls to wear life jackets. While teenagers and adults used flotation (29.5% and 23.5%), they rarely used life jackets (2–3%). Boys less than 6 years old who were further than arm’s length of an adult were more likely to wear life jackets than girls. Substandard flotation use did not differ among age groups (15.5–26.5%) but their use was greater among females in most age groups. The authors conclude that flotation devices were frequently used for recreational wading and swimming in open water by all age groups. Life jacket use was limited to children. Therefore, promoting the use of flotation devices with adequate safety standards to provide effective protection, as well as devices that can be fun, could potentially decrease open-water drowning rates. Additionally, there is evidence that community-based campaigns have led to the increased availability of life jacket loaner stations and that loaner stations are an effective drowning prevention strategy (Bennett & Bernthal, 2001). Given the efficacy of life jackets in preventing drowning among boaters, it is reasonable to promote life jackets or approved floatation devices for recreational swimmers, especially in a non-lifeguarded area. Observations, policy reviews, and educational materials all indicate that life jackets for swimmers have some acceptability among the user, prevention specialists and aquatic organizations. Importantly, many swimmers already use some type of floatation, although it is usually not approved for drowning prevention. Ultimately, life jackets can be an extra layer of protection for individuals engaging in a wide range of aquatic activities.