1. Kids Don’t Float Program U. S. Coast Guard Alaska Dept. of Health & Social Services State Office of Boating Safety Alaska Safe Kids Various Community Coalition Members!

2. The Need for Kids Don’t Float ä 1998-1999: 67 Boating Fatalities ä 266 Fatalities In Past 10 Years ä Alaska: 10 Times the National Fatality Rate ä 1980-1994: 100 Children & Teens (0-14) Drowned In Alaska

3. Boating Fatalities

4. Fatality Characteristics ä Most fatalities occur in open skiffs or canoes ä Over 90% of fatality victims did not wear a lifejacket (PFD) ä 1997: 22% of boating fatalities were 18 & Under ä Over half of Alaska drownings occur on lakes & rivers

5. KDF Program Overview ä Started in Homer by Community Groups ä Based on Kids Don’t Fly (NY City program) ä Converted to Statewide Use in 1997 ä Now in Over 200 Sites Statewide ä 2 Program Components ä Education ä Lifejacket Loaner Program ä At least 5 lives saved since start of program

6. Who Is Involved With KDF? ä U.S. Coast Guard ä State of Alaska ä DHSS, Section of Community Health & EMS ä DNR, State Office of Boating Safety ä Alaska Safe Kids ä Homer Originating Team ä Community Leaders & Volunteers

7. KDF Education Program ä Adult Education Curriculum (Manual) ä Youth Education Lesson Plan & Activities ä Peer Educator Program for High School Use

8. KDF Peer Education Program ä Volunteers Train High School Students ä Trained High School Students Conduct Classes for Elementary School Students ä Juneau, Alaska 1998: ä 37 High School Students ä 240 Elementary School Students

9. High School Training ä Set Up Training/Program With Local High School ä Students In Program Get Community Service Credit ä Hold 2-3 Hour Training Regarding PFD Use ä Students Develop Lesson Plans For Elementary Classes ä Hold a Final Organizing Session (provide packets) ä H.S. Students Perform Trainings

10. Elementary School Training ä High School Students Schedule Sessions ä Each Group Teaches 3 Classes (30 mins.) ä Group Receives Evaluation & Credit

11. Focus of Kids Don’t Float Education Program ä Teach Youth About Safety ä Positive Role Modeling By Teens ä Reach All Types of Boaters/Swimmers ä Reduce Fatalities

12. KDF PFD Loaner Program ä Loaner Boards at Harbors/Boat Ramps ä Loaner Board Sponsor ä PFD’s Provided by State or Local Groups ä Boaters Borrow PFD’s and Return After Use ä PFD Loaner Board Use Study Showed Increase in Use

13. KDF 1998 Loaner Program ä Implemented in 61 Alaskan Communities ä PFD Use 5-1500 Times Per Site ä Program Survey November 1998 ä Little/No PFD Loss ä Very Positive Program Comments

14. KDF/Boating Safety Resources ä KDF Program Manual/Kit ä AMSEA Cold Water Kids ä AMSEA Cold Water K-12 Curriculum ä Videos ä Dateline ä It Could Have Been Prevented (AMSEA) ä The Test Files (Ohio DNR) ä Cold, Wet, & Alive (Am. Canoe Assn) ä Public Service Announcements

15. The KDF Future ä KDF Loaner Boards at All Harbors/Lakes/Rivers ä Education in All Alaska Schools ä Involvement By All Alaska Communities ä Eliminate Drowning Fatalities

16. KDF & Boating Safety Contact in Idaho David Dahms Boating Program Manager/Boating Law Administrator Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (208) 334-3741 david.dahms@idpr.idaho.gov www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov