PRATT -- Over the years, a number of boaters have died needlessly in Kansas simply because they weren't wearing life jackets. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) believes boating education saves lives, and positive reinforcement is the best way to encourage safe boating and life jacket use.

To accomplish this, KDWP rewards boaters with gift cards and certificates for wearing life jackets voluntarily. KDWP officers randomly contact boaters, and if everyone in the boat is wearing a life jacket, then the boat receives an envelope containing a reward. This reward could be a gift certificate for food, entertainment, or merchandise. All persons inside the boat must be wearing a properly-fitted life jacket when stopped for the boat to be deemed safe and be eligible to receive rewards.

Official rules include the following:

• KDWP officers randomly reward boaters with prizes for wearing their life jackets, while patrolling on lakes throughout the summer. A minimum of 50 contacts will occur over the promotional period. All persons inside the boat must have a properly-worn life jacket when stopped;
• the promotion runs through September 5;
• the operator and all passengers occupying a boat deemed a "safe boat" are eligible to be selected to earn various rewards. Employees, officers, and directors of KDWP and participating sponsors, their respective parents, subsidiaries, and agents, as well as immediate family are not eligible; and
• KDWP officers distribute rewards to the operator of a safe boat. The operator will receive a randomly-chosen sealed envelope and distribute the contents of the envelope to other passengers at operator's discretion.

For a complete copy of the official rules, send a self addressed, stamped envelope to Erika Nighswonger, c/o KDWP Boating Education, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124. For more on boating in Kansas, visit the KDWP website .
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