County agency receives grant for life jackets
Marion County Chapter of Safe Kids has received $5,000 in grant money for children's life jackets.
Sondra Mayfield, coordinator of the program, said she had applied for a $10,000 grant but was grateful for the money she was given.
The grant, available through Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is to reduce injuries due to motor vehicle crashes, fire/burns, and drownings.
The competitive grant program awarded four to six grants totaling $40,000.
Mayfield realizes the importance of water safety.
"Personnel at the lakes have said they've seen children visiting grandparents without adequate life jackets," said Mayfield. "The grandparents mean well and may put an adult life jacket on the child, but it doesn't fit properly and would not be as effective as one the proper size."
Mayfield said this is the first grant application KDHE has received for water safety.
According to state statistics, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages one through four, and the second leading cause in children 14 and under.
"This project will include partnership between Marion County Reservoir, Marion County Park and Lake, four municipal swimming pools located within Marion County, Marion Prairie View mental health summer camp, Boy Scout Troop 102, Marion County SAFE Kids Chapter, and Marion County Health Department," explained Mayfield.
The distribution of personal flotation devices and usage training will be on-site at each facility.
Marion Reservoir personnel plan to give away a portion of the life jackets received from the grant as a special project to children arriving at the facility without proper gear. The reservoir currently has a loaner program.
Marion County Park and Lake will use the donated personal flotation devices as a loaner program.
Municipal swimming pools will use the devices for swimming lessons each year. The life jackets and flotation devices also will be used during pool hours.
"The swimming instructors are thrilled to get them," said Mayfield. The pools had been using older jackets and some individuals brought from home.
In the past, the Boy Scouts have shared their life jackets with Prairie View for the summer camp.
"The jackets are the old orange jackets that are out of compliance," said Mayfield. The new jackets will be much safer and more practical.
Prairie View and Boy Scouts will use the devices for water sports. County offices will dispense as needed.
Approximately 200 life jackets will be purchased with the funds. Sizes of the jackets will range from infant/child to 50 to 90 pounds, to large/extra large.
For more information about Safe Kids or the life jacket program, contact Mayfield at county health office, 620-382-2550.
