Lead by Kitsap County Commissioner Steve Bauer, representatives of groups that partnered on the county’s first life-jacket loaner kiosk will come together to mark its arrival in a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8 in Buck Lake County Park in Hansville.
Situated on the shore of the lake, the kiosk houses a variety of life jackets that are available to park users to borrow on the honor system. It also sports an informative sign that provides directions for the safety devices’ proper fit, and will operate during the swimming season, May until September, according to a release from North Kitsap Fire & Rescue.
“Partnerships made this project possible, and the dedication of a group of young people made it a reality,” said Commissioner Bauer. “It’s a real pleasure to recognize this grass-roots effort to improve kids’ safety in and around Buck Lake.”
This life-saving addition to one of the county’s most beautiful parks was made possible by a broad coalition that includes Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center, Safe Kids Kitsap County, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Kitsap County Parks and the Boy Scouts.
Scheduled to attend Friday’s event are Commissioner Bauer; Chief Dan Smith of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue; Randy Billick, Deputy Chief, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue; Michele Laboda, NKF&R Public Information Officer; Jody Matson, Public Information Officer, Poulsbo Fire Department; Michele Jennings, Safe Kids Kitsap County and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center; Dori Leckner of Kitsap County Parks & Recreation; Barbara Smithson, Kitsap County Health District; Nik O’Leary, Eagle Scout candidate; and Steven Haws, Scout leader.
The project was spearheaded by Safe Kids Kitsap County, the local branch of a global network of similar organizations united under the goal of preventing accidental injury in children. Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the kiosk at its Buck Lake site, an Eagle Scout candidate lead a group of his peers to build the structure itself, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center is donating the life jackets and North Kitsap Fire & Rescue will ensure that the kiosk remains stocked.
In Washington state, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children under the age of 17. Washington’s childhood drowning death rate (1.4 deaths per 100,000 of population) is slightly higher than the national rate (1.3 deaths per 100,000 of population), according to NKF&R.
Emergency responders have committed time and resources to this project, knowing from experience that life jackets are an essential tool for preventing childhood drowning, but they work best when coupled with vigilant adult supervision. “A well-fitted life jacket gives watchful adults extra time to reach a child in trouble,” noted NKF&R spokeswoman Michèle Laboda.
Similar kiosks are in place across Washington with multiple “saves” credited to the programs. Loaner life jackets have been available through several area fire departments as well as Mary Bridge’s Silverdale clinic for more than five years, but the Buck Lake kiosk is the area’s first loaner program at a water recreation site. With continued success at the Buck Lake location, coalition members hope to expand the program to other Kitsap County sites in the future.
