Kids 'caught' in life jackets score free T-shirts at Lake of the Ozarks
Ameren Missouri and the Missouri State Highway Patrol promote boating safety with summer giveaway
This summer, children spotted wearing their U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets while on the water at Lake of the Ozarks will receive a free T-shirt courtesy of Ameren Missouri. Marine troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol will hand out the T-shirts while monitoring the lake throughout the summer. The giveaway, which runs all season long, rewards safe choices and reminds families that properly fitted life jackets are the simplest way to prevent tragedies on the water.
Boaters of all ages should wear life jackets for any water activities, regardless of their swimming abilities.
“Seeing kids proudly put safety first is one of the best parts of my summer,” said Bryan Vance, manager of the shoreline management office at Ameren Missouri. “We’re excited to continue this fun tradition with the Highway Patrol and hope every family enjoys a safe season on Missouri’s most popular lake.”
Last year, troopers distributed more than 750 T-shirts during routine safety checks and courtesy stops. The program complements Missouri law, which requires children under the age of seven to wear a life jacket any time they are on a vessel, unless they are inside a completely enclosed cabin.
“Nationwide, drowning accounts for three‑quarters of boating fatalities, and nearly 90% of those victims weren’t wearing a life jacket, according to the latest U.S. Coast Guard data,” said Captain Mike Petlansky, division director of Missouri’s water patrol division. “When kids get a shirt for doing the right thing, it sends a powerful message to everyone else onboard.”
Ameren Missouri encourages all Lake of the Ozarks visitors to follow the Coast Guard’s recommendations for proper life jacket use:
Always wear a life jacket while aboard a vessel and when near a body of water – including boat docks and shorelines.
Check the manufacturer’s label to ensure the life jacket is a proper fit for your child’s size and weight.
Tighten all straps so the life jacket is properly fastened.
Check the fit by lifting the shoulders of the life jacket. If it hits the top of the child’s ears, it’s too big. Make sure there is no excess room above the openings and that the life jacket does not go over their chin or face.
Life jackets should never replace adult supervision.
Ameren Missouri manages the shoreline of Lake of the Ozarks under a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Shoreline Management Office is responsible for implementing the FERC-approved Shoreline Management Plan at Lake of the Ozarks.
For Ameren Missouri’s updated report on Lake of the Ozarks water levels, please call 573.365.9205 or visit AmerenMissouri.com/Lake for hourly Lake of the Ozarks water level information.