Salt Lake City, (May 19, 2026) – As Utah enters the peak boating season, state officials and partners today announced a major expansion of Life Jacket Loaner Stations across Utah, making it easier than ever for recreators to access and wear life jackets while on the water.
“This is about removing barriers and saving lives,” said Ty Hunter, boating program manager for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. “We know that the majority of boating-related drowning victims are not wearing a life jacket. By making them free and accessible across the state, we’re making it easier for people to make the safe choice.”
Unveiled at Jordanelle State Park, the initiative includes stations at all 23 water-based Utah state parks and additional locations statewide. The effort is supported by a partnership among the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, the Utah Division of State Parks, and Intermountain Children’s Health, which donated 1,000 life jackets to help stock stations with a full range of sizes for all ages.
Life Jacket Loaner Stations are designed to be simple and accessible: recreators can borrow a life jacket for the day, wear it while on the water and return it before leaving. The stations help eliminate common barriers such as cost, convenience and availability.
The announcement also marks the launch of a new online landing page and interactive map on recreation.utah.gov, allowing users to easily find the nearest Life Jacket Loaner Station before heading out.
“State parks are some of Utah’s most popular recreation destinations, and safety is always our top priority,” said Chris Haramoto, deputy director of the Utah Division of State Parks. “Expanding these loaner stations across our parks ensures visitors have access to life-saving equipment and reinforces the importance of responsible recreation.”
Intermountain Children’s Health emphasized the importance of prevention as part of community health and safety.
“Drowning is preventable, and access to life jackets is a critical part of that prevention,” said Michelle Jamison, community health program manager. “We’re proud to support this effort and help protect Utah families and visitors.”
Utah law requires one life jacket per person on board a vessel, and children under 13 must wear a life jacket at all times while on the water. Officials stress that adults should also wear life jackets to model safe behavior and reduce preventable tragedies.
“Don’t just bring it. Wear it,” Hunter said. “Life jackets save lives, but only if you’re wearing one.”
Recreators are encouraged to plan ahead, locate a nearby loaner station using the new map and make wearing a life jacket a standard part of every water outing.
For more information and to find a Life Jacket Loaner Station near you, visit https://recreation.utah.gov/life-jacket-loaner-stations/.
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