How to Donate Life Vests

Donating life vests is easy and rewarding.

Boating safety is an important part of watercraft recreation. Most (if not all) states, require boaters to wear and store extra life preservers aboard their boats, along with other safety items such as fire extinguishers. Many states either through local law enforcement or wildlife and fishery departments require boaters to enroll in boating safety courses. If you have an abundance of life vests that you do not need, rather than selling them, you can donate them to boating safety instructors within local marine units of your local law enforcement agencies.

Things You'll Need

• telephone
• computer with Internet access

Instructions

1. Contact the marine division of either your local Sheriff's Office or state's Wildlife and Fisheries Department by telephone.

2. Ask them first if they have a list of boater safety courses and locations.

3. Explain also that you have life vests that you wish to donate. Ask where the best place to drop off the vests would be. They may tell you to bring the life vests to the closest sheriff or wildlife and fisheries sub-station. However, they may also direct you to a specific location where the boating safety classes are held.

4. Deliver the life vests to the location you are instructed.

5. Check online boater safety courses on the Internet. One such organization that has a nationwide life vest donation program is the BoatUS Foundation.

References

• BoatUS Foundation: Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids
• Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries: Boating safety classes