Kids don’t float – but PFDs do!
This is the theme of a new initiative of Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station on Shuswap Lake.
Recently three kiosks have been installed on the lake.
The kiosks have loaner PFDs (Personal Floatation Device) for children to use while boating or swimming. The kiosks are located at the boat launch in Sicamous, Canoe Beach boat launch in Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake Park at Scotch Creek/Celista.
The kiosk at Canoe Beach has been funded by the Salmar Community Association, Shuswap Lake kiosk by Shuswap Community Foundation and the refurbished kiosk in Sicamous by Bayview Homes of Sicamous.
Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) wants kids to stay safe in the water. If a child needs a PFD, parents are welcome to borrow one at the kiosk. Parents must ensure they choose the right size PFD for their child and it is properly worn while boating or swimming. Parents are asked to return the PFD when they are through for other kids to use.
Other loaner station kiosks are being planned around Shuswap Lake at public boat launches. RCM-SAR Shuswap hopes to have two other kiosks installed at Herald Park and the Downtown/Wharf (Salmon Arm) later in the summer. Donors for these two projects are SASCU, Shuswap Watershed Council and the Knights of Columbus (Salmon Arm).
RCM-SAR is a volunteer marine Search and Rescue (SAR) organization dedicated to saving lives on the water 24/7, 365 days of the year. RCM-SAR (Shuswap) also provides boating safety education for children and adults throughout the Shuswap region.