By Tom Vogt, Columbian
Science, Military & History Reporter
Published: July 13, 2012, 5:00pm
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Esteban Cervantes, 4, of Vancouver wears a life jacket Friday at Klineline Pond. The popular swimming site hasn't had lifeguards since budget cuts in 2009, but beginning this week, about a dozen life jackets in a full range of sizes are available to borrow. Esteban's mother, Elizabeth Cervantes, said her son isn't the best swimmer, so she feels better when he wears the vest.
Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death among children 1 to 14 years old, behind
motor vehicle crashes.
SOURCE: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Elizabeth Cervantes and her kids headed out to go swimming Friday afternoon, then realized they’d left their life jackets at home.
Klineline Pond had life jackets waiting for them.
This is the first week the popular swimming site just west of Interstate 5 has had its life-jacket loaner program in operation.
“We happened to forget ours, and it came in handy,” said Elizabeth Cervantes, whose 5-year-old son, Esteban, was wearing a bright yellow life jacket. “It was perfect.”
Diana Thomas said her 5-year-old son Devyn asked for a life jacket when they arrived Friday.
“We were here yesterday, but all the jackets in his size were gone,” Thomas said.
About a dozen life jackets in various sizes — infant through adult — are available for free while swimmers enjoy Klineline Pond.
The life jackets are stored in a shed next to the concession stand. Users are asked to return them to the shed before heading home.
Several local agencies came together in the project, said Anne Johnston of Clark County Public Health — the lead agency in the local Safe Kids coalition.
“Fire District 6 was very interested in a life-jacket loaner station because they responded to a near-drowning-death last summer,” Johnston said.
Deputy Todd Baker, with the sheriff’s Marine Patrol unit, is a member of the Washington drowning-prevention task force. He made a presentation in March to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee promoting the program. Parks officials gave the go-ahead.
The life jackets were provided by the sheriff’s office and the Seattle-based Paris White Foundation, started by the family of a 2-year-old girl who drowned.
There are no lifeguards at Klineline Pond. The lifeguard program was eliminated three years ago because of budget cuts.
Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death among children 1 to 14 years old, behind
motor vehicle crashes.
SOURCE: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
But parents should always designate somebody to be a water watcher. Johnston said: “Never leave children unattended.”
