Make lifejackets compulsory for children on small commercial boats.
Make lifejackets compulsory for children on small commercial boats.
The Issue
Help us save lives by signing our petition to change the law and make it compulsory for young children to wear lifejackets on small commercial boats.
In the US, Australia and Scandanavia, kids have to wear lifejackets on small boats and there are hefty fines for those who break the law. But in the UK, commercial operators can take young children who can't swim out into tidal waters with strong currents, without needing to wear lifejackets. We believe this a recipe for disaster.
One second he was there, then he was gone…
A 6-year-old boy called Lucas was with his family on a small boat in the River Stour when he slipped and fell into the water. Without a lifejacket on, he disappeared before anyone could grab him.
Four days later, divers found his body.
Motivated by the tragedy, one of the divers teamed up with Lucas’ father to establish a water safety campaign highlighting the importance of lifejackets for children.
Sadly, just four years later the lessons have been forgotten…
Earlier this summer, a commercial operator took my children on a boat trip on the same river Lucas lost his life in. I was not there at the time, but from the photographs I noticed the kids weren’t wearing lifejackets.
Despite regular swimming, my son can't swim unaided properly yet. I emailed the boat company to express my concern and ask what their safety policy was. The reply was to the point; “please read the law on passenger boats before making unfounded allegations against a company operating within the law.”
It takes some children a long time before they can swim without lifejackets on.
The law states that the boat must carry lifejackets, but it doesn’t mention anything about people wearing them. As we learnt from Lucas’ death, it takes a split second for a young child to accidentally slip into the water. For a lifejacket to be of any use you need to be wearing it.
Clearly, the law needs to change.
In the US and Ireland, all children must wear lifejackets on small commercial boats. The same rules should apply in the UK, or else more young children will lose their lives senselessly. Should we wait until my son drowns - or someone’s daughter perhaps? No, we need to act now.
If you agree, please sign our petition so we can lobby the UK government to change the law so that all children under 12 must wear lifejackets on small commercial boats.
2,282
The Issue
Help us save lives by signing our petition to change the law and make it compulsory for young children to wear lifejackets on small commercial boats.
In the US, Australia and Scandanavia, kids have to wear lifejackets on small boats and there are hefty fines for those who break the law. But in the UK, commercial operators can take young children who can't swim out into tidal waters with strong currents, without needing to wear lifejackets. We believe this a recipe for disaster.
One second he was there, then he was gone…
A 6-year-old boy called Lucas was with his family on a small boat in the River Stour when he slipped and fell into the water. Without a lifejacket on, he disappeared before anyone could grab him.
Four days later, divers found his body.
Motivated by the tragedy, one of the divers teamed up with Lucas’ father to establish a water safety campaign highlighting the importance of lifejackets for children.
Sadly, just four years later the lessons have been forgotten…
Earlier this summer, a commercial operator took my children on a boat trip on the same river Lucas lost his life in. I was not there at the time, but from the photographs I noticed the kids weren’t wearing lifejackets.
Despite regular swimming, my son can't swim unaided properly yet. I emailed the boat company to express my concern and ask what their safety policy was. The reply was to the point; “please read the law on passenger boats before making unfounded allegations against a company operating within the law.”
It takes some children a long time before they can swim without lifejackets on.
The law states that the boat must carry lifejackets, but it doesn’t mention anything about people wearing them. As we learnt from Lucas’ death, it takes a split second for a young child to accidentally slip into the water. For a lifejacket to be of any use you need to be wearing it.
Clearly, the law needs to change.
In the US and Ireland, all children must wear lifejackets on small commercial boats. The same rules should apply in the UK, or else more young children will lose their lives senselessly. Should we wait until my son drowns - or someone’s daughter perhaps? No, we need to act now.
If you agree, please sign our petition so we can lobby the UK government to change the law so that all children under 12 must wear lifejackets on small commercial boats.
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Petition created on 27 June 2023