During 2009 GLA Boat and Sport Show ...

GRDA sponsoring children's lifejacket giveaway

Grove -- When you consider that ninety percent of all drownings occur in inland waters, within a few feet of safety, it is easy to see why the use of life jackets is so important.

In fact, promoting proper life jacket usage will be a top priority for the Grand River Dam Authority during the Grand Lake Association’s upcoming Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show (March 13-15) at the Grove Civic Center.

During the event, GRDA, with help from the Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron (GLSPS) will be donating 150 children’s life jackets to the public.

Children, accompanied by an adult, will be eligible to receive a free jacket, while supplies last. The GLSPS will be on hand to personally fit the children and instruct parents on techniques for proper usage. On Friday, 35 jackets will be given away with 90 more Saturday. The remainder will be given away during Sunday.

“GRDA is very proud to be part of this effort,” said GRDA Community Relations Director Holly Moore. “Promoting proper life jacket usage – including proper fitting – has always been a priority for us. Personally, I never let my own children step one foot on our dock without their life jackets, so this is issue is very important to me.”

These three young boaters were "caught" doing the right thing -- wearing their life jackets. The reward? A t-shirt from the Grand River Dam Authority Lake Patrol. As boaters are gearing up for the Summer '09 boating season, GRDA is once again promoting proper life jacket usage among young boaters. While the Lake Patrol will be handing out t-shirts again this summer on Grand and Hudson, GRDA will also sponsor a life jacket giveaway at the upcoming Grand Lake Association Boat and Sport Show, March 13-15, at the Grove Civic Center. A total of 150 children's lifejackets will be given away Friday through Sunday to children, accompanied by adults.

Grand Lake Association Executive Director Deb Wolek echoed Moore’s comments, adding that a personal experience of her own has reinforced the importance of life jacket usage.

“This is a personal issue to me because I almost drowned a few years ago when swimming just a few feet away from my dock,” said Wolek. “My husband saw this scenario, dove in and pulled me from the water. If he hadn’t, I’d not be here. This all happened in a matter of minutes.”

Throughout the summer, the GRDA Lake Patrol will continue to promote proper life jacket usage among young boaters. With its annual “I Got Caught” campaign, the patrol will be looking for children who are doing the right thing – wearing their life jackets – while boating on Grand and Hudson lake. As a reward, those children will receive special “I Got Caught” t-shirts.

“This is the third year for this program and it has really been a wonderful tool for promoting life jackets,” said Moore. “It’s a very positive way to spread this safety message and, along with this life jacket giveaway, we hope the results will speak for themselves.”

The hours of the Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show are Friday, March 13 from noon until 5:00 pm; Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm and Sunday from 10 AM until 4 PM. For more information on this program or on the Boat and Sport Show, visit the GLA website at www.grandlakefun.com  or call toll free 1-866-LUV-GRAND, the local number is 918-786-2289.