Kids Don t Float Life Jacket Loaner Board Project 2013 End of Season Report

Transcription

1 Kids Don t Float Life Jacket Loaner Board Project 2013 End of Season Report Charles Horn Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement Recreational Safety Program Assistant

2 Program Background The Kid s Don t Float Life Jacket Loaner Board program is a cooperative program between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and various partners, in which a life jacket loaner station is erected on boat landings around Wisconsin. The stations provide an opportunity for boaters who find they don t have enough life jackets or Personal Flotation Devices to borrow a life jacket of the correct size for the person who it is intended for the duration of their voyage and then return it to the station. Each station is provided with 3 Infant, 8 Child, 8 Youth, 8 Adult, 5 Adult XL and 4 Type IV throw cushion type personal flotation devices. WDNR provides the materials, signage and personal flotation devices and the partners are responsible for securing permission to place the structure from the boat landing owners, constructing, maintaining, over-winter storage and periodic checking of the station during the time that it is in place on the landing for damage, theft or other issues. WDNR also provides agreement forms and instructions for building the station. The Department of Natural Resources started the Kid s Don t Float Loaner Life Jacket Program in Initially, 12 stations were set up around Wisconsin and in place for the majority of the 2012 summer boating season. In 2013, 28 new stations were added. 4 of the new stations and one of the existing stations were not placed on landings in 2013 due to either late construction or changes in the agreement form, but all of these will be placed in additional requests were received for stations and materials and life jackets were provided late in Four new stations were created by partners from 2012 who wanted to expand the project in their areas. Geographical distribution by DNR Region is as follows; REGION PLACED CONSTRUCTED NOT PLACED PENDING Northeast Northern South-Central Southeast West-Central There were several significant changes to the program in These include; 1) A budget increase to $52, allowed us to expand the program significantly in new stations were added, increasing the total number of stations to 40. Several of the existing partners created new stations on the same or near-by water bodies as well. Some partners also found external funding to cover the cost of the building materials and Scheel s Sporting Goods in Appleton donated three sets of life jackets for stations in the Fox River Valley. Additionally, due to a small surplus in the budget allocation at the end of the boating season, we were able to fund the materials for several new stations for 2014, which will cover some shortfalls due to a predicted budget reduction for FY14.

3 2) In accordance with state policy, we changed our sign producer from American Signs and Designs, who was the designer of the prototype station, to Badger State Industries. There was a significant cost reduction in this change. 3) An Initial Request for Station was created to make tracking simpler and to verify that the requesting partner had landing owner s permission to place the station at the landing. This was in part generated by some assumptions that because this is a WDNR program, that permission was already granted for DNR owned landings. Bureau of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Legal Services and Division of Lands and Bureau of Parks staff worked to create a system where the partner would work with the appropriate lands/parks property managers to assure placement of the structure would be placed in an area where it didn t interfere with day to day operations of the property. Included was a new partner agreement form which addresses these concerns and a stipulation that includes a DNR Land Use Agreement form ( ) be filled out before placing the station. 4) The Bureau of Legal Services requested that we include some sort of liability waiver to be visible on the stations. After coming up with suitable wording, we worked with BSC to create a decal with said wording that could be applied to the lower right hand side of the box lid. This was sent in decal form to existing partners and included on the last order of signs from BSI. Problems and Proposed Solutions 1) Liability and government owned landings As mentioned, several partners had not contacted the landing owner to secure permission for the project before beginning, including landings on state and/or county-owned lands. Bureau of Law Enforcement Staff worked with Bureau of Lands and Division of Parks to create suitable arrangements for partners who wanted to utilize DNR owned properties to do so with input as to station placement etc. at these landings. These arrangements take into account landing maintenance and safety issues and should address futures interest in DNR owned landings. One partner in 2012 was interested in placing two stations on county-owned landings in Waukesha County. The Corporation Council for this county decided against allowing these stations and arrangements were made to place these

4 already-constructed stations on DNR owned landings on other near-by lakes (Golden and Silver Lakes). It should be noted that many partners are municipality departments and they took care of securing proper permission for the landings they owned. Also, two stations that were scheduled to be placed on state lands in 2013 and one that was placed in 2012 but not in 2013 will be placed in 2014 due to these agreements (Lake George, High Cliff and Lake Kegonsa respectively). 2) Weather-related issues Several partners reported damage to the stations from wind and in one case, a tornado. Most of the damage was restricted to the fiberglass roof and in most cases was able to be repair at little or no cost. In 2012, a composite plastic material was used for the sign construction and some of these signs did also break when the structure tipped over. This problem was addressed by using MDO and HDO grade plywood for future sign construction. Plans to address this issue include directions to not place structure facing prevailing winds and to devise some sort of anchoring system which may be landing specific, to keep these structures from tipping over. 3) Theft/missing life jackets Several stations reported large amounts of theft or otherwise missing life jackets. Each station was provided with a total of 36 stations and of the 1440 life jackets currently assigned to stations, 110 were missing. The following ideas are being considered to address these losses; a) If we place future orders with Onyx, we will inquire about having them increase the size of the printing on the back of the jackets. There were more problems with these disappearing than with the Cabela s ones with the larger, bolder printing. b) In the new partner agreement form that will be sent out to all new partners next year, we are requiring that they check the stations weekly. This might also deter theft. c) At the beginning of the boating season, the Dept. should remind wardens and local boat patrols that if they see folks wearing the loaner jackets, they should casually mention it, ask how they enjoy the program etc. This might deter theft on the basis that the borrower knows that we know. d) In areas of high volume of missing PFDs, notably Lake Arbutus, Hudson and Eau Claire, we could put out a news release encouraging people who borrowed but forgot to return jackets an opportunity to drop them off at a local PD or DNR office, no questions asked- PFD Amnesty! 4) Insect issues. A couple of stations reported issues with insects, specifically wasps and earwigs. A DNR Forestry Entomologist was contacted and provided some suggestions to alleviate these problems. Future construction plans and materials lists will include caulking the inside of

5 the box joints and placing some sort of screen or hardware cloth on the inside of the vents. Additionally, by having partners check the stations more frequently, it is hoped that these issues might be caught early on. Positive aspects of the Program At the time of this writing, there were 12 boating related fatalities in the State of Wisconsin in 2013 and in 8 of these fatalities, it was reported that the victim was not wearing a personal flotation device. The other four were still pending investigation.. Additionally, failing to provide the proper number of personal flotation devices continues to be the number one boating violation in Wisconsin. This shows a need for additional educational efforts to show the need for proper personal flotation supply and use All partners report receiving very favorable comments about the program. Many expressed that they felt that the public relations message promoting the use of life jackets in a very visible way was a big benefit to boating safety. Below are examples of comments provided by partners; Lots of people have told us it is a great idea. (Arbutus) We only had positive comments saying what a wonderful idea it is and to commend the DNR for promoting this Kids Don t Float program (Mildred) All positive comments and have had people borrow jackets for the day (Half Moon) (Winneconne PD). The Brazeau Emergency Services would like to thank you for allowing our organizations the opportunity to offer this very important program to our residents and visitors to our area for their safety. (Brazeau). Yes, many people made comments on how great an idea and many people used the station and made comments on wanting more stations around the state so project is a positive for the state and boating safety. (Chenequa) We do believe that the life jacket loaner station is important and should continue. We would like to complete further evaluation next year to potentially see how often the jackets are being used. Have other areas done this? If so, could you share their evaluation process? (Gunderson) Many comments all positive saw many users at the station. (Nebegamon). Positive, unit is easy to maintain and serves a great purpose/fills a need. Would like to expand to Eau Claire Lakes and Lake Owen ( Bayfield Co.). Yes, all good positive comments. Even the coast guard gave me a thumbs up. ( Cardinal Env.)

6 Lost quite a number due to theft, people expressed concern. (Hudson). Lots of comments from public, marina, Yacht Clubs and our organization, all positive. (Neenan/Menasha) Good to see the DNR loaning out life jackets and not just writing tickets. Great program, person had seen a rental program similar to this one in another state. Several comments on nice idea, nice to see the DNR lending boaters PFD s. Staff members, community members and friends all love the idea. One of my co-workers was able to take his daughter s birthday party out on the river since additional life jackets were available in the required sizes. Numerous positive comments, none negative. Pretty much every time we were going through the station, somebody would ask about the project. All positive comments received. Summary The Kid s Don t Float Project continues to be a very positive public relations program for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the loaner board partners that make this project possible and presents both as being proactive towards boating safety. While no there have been no documented saves since the program s inception, the visible reminder of the life jacket safety message, not only reminds those boaters who forgot or are otherwise short of life jackets and utilize the station, but also those boaters who have enough life jackets to make them accessible and encourages younger boaters especially to put them on.