Life jacket loaner stations open in Columbus and Chattahoochee Valley
As temperatures rise and people take to area lakes, rivers and streams, one annual effort to keep people safe on outings has officially started.
Safe Kids Columbus and the River Safety Committee, in conjunction with their partners, have announced the opening of several life jacket loaner stations across the Chattahoochee Valley. The announcement came during a Wednesday news conference at Lake Oliver Marina in Columbus.
“It’s a labor of love, that is for sure, to make sure that our residents have what they need,” said Pam Fair, executive director of Safe Kids Columbus. “We want to have no drownings this year. That’s our goal.”
Fair said these eight life jacket loaner stations will be available during for the 2026 water recreation and boating season. They are on the Alabama and Georgia sides of the Chattahoochee River. They will have U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets. Here are the locations:
- Lake Oliver Marina — 5501 River Road, Columbus
- Goat Rock Lake Marina — Peggy Lane Boat Ramp in Fortson, Georgia
- Po Boys Landing — County Road 334, Salem, Alabama
- Long Bridge Boat Ramp — County Road 379 Salem, Alabama (near Backwaters Marina)
- Valley Park Recreation Area/Boat Ramp — off County Road 369, Valley, Alabama
- Idle Hour Boat Ramp — off Mountain Drive in Hamilton, Georgia
- Blanton Creek Campground — 6111 Lick Skillet Road in Hamilton, Georgia
- 1827 Real Estate – 5153 GA-219, Fortson, Georgia
Anyone can borrow these life jackets for free, and they are available in a variety of sizes. Each person borrowing a life jacket needs to inspect the life jacket before using it, then return it clean and in good working order the same day. Life jackets are neither inspected nor maintained after each use. They are borrowed at your own risk.
Fair said it’s important to choose the appropriately size for a life jacket and to put it on before entering the water.
“The time to put on your life vest is before you enter the water,” Fair said. “You definitely don’t want to wait until you get into trouble and then try to put on a life jacket. And it’s important that the life jacket fits you snug because you don’t want to be able to take that life jacket and pull up on it, and it comes over the head. And that’s what’ll happen if you use a poorly fitted life jacket.”
To donate to this project, go to safekidscolumbusga.org and click the donate tab.
