Town of Buchanan Virginia Opens Life Jacket Loaner Station

Public Access to Free Life Jackets Provided to Help Make Local Boating Safer

BUCHANAN, Va. – The Town of Buchanan Virginia will open a new Life Jacket Loaner Stand located at the public boat launch on Lowe Street. 

This stand holds life jackets provided courtesy of the Sea Tow Foundation. 

The Sea Tow Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safe boating practices. One of the ways that the Sea Tow Foundation does this is through their Life Jacket Loaner Program. Since 2008, the Sea Tow Foundation has distributed 40,000 life jackets to boaters across the country. 

As part of the current grant, the Sea Tow Foundation accepted applications from non‐profit organizations and boating agencies around the country to host a life jacket loaner program in their local areas.  The Town of Buchanan Virginia was accepted as one of the hosts.

Boaters and swimmers may borrow to replace missing or damaged personal flotation devices, or use for extra guests on board their boats. The life jackets are free to be borrowed and are available in a variety of sizes ranging from infant to adult.

“The Town is much honored to have been selected to host a life station at the public boat launch,” Mary Zirkle, Buchanan Town Manager, said. “This is our second time receiving the life vests, which were so popular that we needed more to replace those received with the first grant. 

Without a vest, the chances are too great that something bad could happen to a good day on the river. We hope that each person who gets to use a vest will bring it back here to perhaps save another life after them.”

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

“This life jacket loaner stand will be popular with boaters and other water enthusiasts who forgot to pack their life jackets or realize that their kids have outgrown their old life jackets,” Executive Director of Sea Tow Foundation Michael Wesolowski said. “Everyone, including infants and children, can find a free life jacket that fits to wear for their day on the water, then return it for someone else to use the next day.”