Their treat: Cops to give free desserts to kids in life jackets
From Deep Creek Lake to the waters around Ocean City, kids wearing life jackets while boating this summer could win a free dessert for putting safety first.
Following the worst season for boating fatalities in more than a decade, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers will be giving away coupons for Rita’s Italian Ice as part of a stepped up education and enforcement program. Also, coupons will be given out wherever the colorful “Wear-it, Maryland” truck is on display.
The coupons are good for a free Italian ice at any of Rita’s 80 Maryland shops.
Last year, Maryland had 16 fatal accidents, resulting in 17 deaths--the highest number in more than a decade. Sixteen of the 17 victims were not wearing life vests.
Colonel George Johnson, NRP superintendent, called wearing a life jacket "the single most important tool in preventing boating deaths.”
Under a new law, children under 13 must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while aboard a moving vessel under 21 feet in length.
Also, a child under the age of 4 must wear a life jacket equipped with an inflatable headrest collar for added buoyancy, a web handle for gripping, and a strap that is secured between the child’s legs to fasten the front and back of the jacket together to prevent it from slipping off.
Comments
Thanks for sharing this info... we linked to it in our post today (Our theme this week is boating safety, so this was perfect!)
What they're doing in MD with Rita's may seem trivial to some, but every effort counts when it comes to saving lives on the water.
Posted by: DailyBoater | May 26, 2010 2:12 PM
This is a great program. I can tell you from personal experience it will help encourage kids to wear their life jackets. Years ago my kids were each issued a citation for free ice creams by the DNR. We always made them wear their lifejackets anyway but there was much less resistance after that. They kept hoping to get "cited" again for the rest of the summer. I suggest you patronize Rita's and let them know you support their contributions.
John Hall
Past Commander Dundalk Sail & Power Squadron
Posted by: John Hall | June 1, 2010 4:46 PM