‘Kids Don’t Float’ Campaign Includes Life Jackets

With the heat and smoke we've been experiencing, a nice, refeshing dip in the water would be welcome. Just remember to get your kids into life jackets. "Kids Don't Float" is a water safety program from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, partnering with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The Department donated over 300 life jackets to the statewide campaign this week.

At a ceremony at Spring Meadow Lake, Montana Lt. Governor Kristen Juras FWP Director Hank Worsech and DPHHS Deputy Director Laura Smith cautioned parents to prevent drowning by regularly using life jackets on their kids. Hundreds of loan jackets will be available in 60 locations in Montana. However, the safety tips go beyond that. Laura Smith said, "Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4 nationally, and a top cause of death among teens."

Montana has averaged about four accidental drownings among children every year for the past decade. And that doesn't just mean on the rivers, ponds and lakes. The drownings are happening around the house. You should empty buckets, bathtubs and wading pools immediately after use.

Prevention tips are logical. All children and adults should learn how to swim. Adults and older children should learn CPR. Don't use drugs or alcohol when swimming or boating. And, everyone, including adults, should wear US Coast Guard-approved life jackets when they are in open water or on watercraft.

And at home, DPHHS tips include never leaving a baby alone or with with young siblings in a bathtub for even a second. Keep a baby within arm's reach. Keep the toilet lid down and keep young kids out of the bathroom when unsupervised. Lt. Gov. Juras said, "I urge Montanans to take all the necessary precautions this summer to avoid water-related tragedies that can happen so fast."