GRAND RAPIDS — The Itasca County Sheriff's Office will distribute free youth life jackets at L&M Fleet Supply in Grand Rapids on Friday, Aug. 2.
Residents can learn about water safety from experts and receive proper fitting and usage instructions for the life jackets.
State law requires children under 10 to wear a life jacket when moving on the water. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death, especially among children.
"Our goal is to ensure that everyone can enjoy the water safely, and events like this help us make a real difference in preventing water-related accidents," Sheriff Joe Dasovich said.
L&M, Onyx Outdoor, National Marine Manufacturers Association and Water Sports Industry Association are cosponsors of the event.
Life jackets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event begins at 3 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m. or until all life jackets have been distributed.
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