Sea Tow Foundation Announces Life Jacket Loaner Program Applications

Southold, NY – – The Sea Tow Foundation wants to see more boaters wearing life jackets while having fun on or in the water. Starting today, the Foundation will be accepting applications from non-profit organizations throughout the country to host a life jacket loaner program in their local area.

The Sea Tow Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization created by Sea Tow Founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer with the mission of promoting safe boating practices. To help promote life jacket use, the Sea Tow Foundation stocks more than 160 life jacket loaner stands throughout the country where boaters can borrow a life jacket for free. The life jacket loaner program is funded through donations, as well as a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, which is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of life jacket loaner stands in the country; specifically in areas where there have been high incidents of drowning.

The U.S. Coast Guard requires that a properly fitting life jacket be available for every passenger aboard a boat, and that anyone under age 13 wear one at all times while on board and outside of an enclosed cabin. The Coast Guard strongly recommends that everyone always wear a life jacket while a boat is underway.

“Life jacket loaner programs are used by boaters who forgot to pack their life jackets or decided at the last minute to invite a friend to go boating and don’t have a life jacket that will fit him,” said Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail R. Kulp, CAE. At a life jacket loaner station, “Everyone, including infants and children, can find a life jacket that fits to wear for their day on the water, then return it for someone else to use the next day.”

Applications are being accepted until November 15, 2013. For more information on the Sea Tow Foundation or the grant project, as well as to download a copy of the application, please visit www.boatingsafety.com.

About the Sea Tow Foundation
In 2007, Sea Tow Founder and CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer created the Sea Tow Foundation – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – to promote safe boating practices. The Foundation’s goal is to reduce accidents, fatalities and property damage related to recreational boating. For more information, please visit www.boatingsafety.com

About Sea Tow
30th anniversary log_Final 2Now celebrating its 30th anniversary year, Sea Tow Services International Inc. is the nation’s leading on-water assistance provider. Established in 1983 by Founder & CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow now serves members in more than 100 locations throughout the United States, Europe, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. For a full list of membership benefits, how to become a Sea Tow member, or to inquire about becoming a Sea Tow franchise owner, please visit seatow.com.

In addition to providing peace of mind on the water 24/7 to Sea Tow members and other boaters, Sea Tow also offers innovative, free boating safety and information services to the public, including the Sea Tow App for smartphones, Sea Tow’s Automated Radio Check Service, and the nonprofit Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Station program. For more information, visit www.seatow.com and www.boatingsafety.com.