Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is holding a life jacket donation drive to celebrate National Safe Boating Week, which is May 19-23.

The donated jackets are cleaned and inspected and then used to resupply designated life jacket loaner stations in communities across Montana.

Life jacket loaner stations provide life jackets to borrow for the day and promote safe water recreation.

Life jacket loaner stations need to be restocked annually after life jackets are lost, stolen or damaged during regular use throughout the season, according to FWP.

Any size life jacket may be donated.

All wearable life jackets are acceptable, except inflatable lifejackets.

To donate, simply drop off life jacket(s) to a donation station May 19-23.

Staff will inspect, clean and distribute to community life jacket loaner stations.

Loaner stations are built, stocked, funded and maintained by county search and rescue, Boy Scouts, local recreation groups such as Walleye’s Unlimited, BLM, FWP, county health departments, YMCA and others.

Donation locations:

• FWP Region 4, Great Falls Office: 4600 Giant Springs Road 406-454-5840
• Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park lower visitor center: 25 Lewis and Clark Caverns Road, Whitehall 406-287-3541
• MT WILD: 2668 Broadwater Ave, Helena 406-444-9944
• FWP Region 2, Missoula Office: 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula 406-542-5500
• FWP Region 3, Bozeman Office: 1400 S. 19th Ave., Bozeman 406-577-7900
• FWP Region 5, Billings Office: 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings 406-247-2940
• Cooney State Park Office: 86 Lake Shore Road, Roberts 59070. 406-445-2326

Drop sites may be indoors or outdoors; check at your selected site or call ahead and ask.

Do not drop off life jackets to existing loaner stations as they need to be cleaned and labeled prior to public distribution, according to FWP.

FWP will accept life jackets in serviceable condition according to U.S. Coast Guard standards and that meet the following criteria:

• free from rips, tears, or open seams in fabric or coating
• buckles, straps, webbing, and zippers in clean, good working condition
• USCG label and certification number clearly visible and readable
• buoyant material in good condition
• not accepting inflatable life jackets at this time

No personal information is required for donation.

Life jackets are required for each person aboard a watercraft, including paddle craft such as paddle boards and kayaks, and must be worn by children under the age of 12 while aboard.

About 85 percent of drowning victims are not wearing a lifejacket at the time of water entry, according to FWP.

Life jackets keep you safe by supporting your body and keeping your head above water.

National Safe Boating Week is a national campaign to bring awareness to safe boating practices as the boating season gets underway in many places, including Montana.

For more information, contact Kylie Kembel at 406-444-5280 or kylie.kembel@mt.gov.