TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Local emergency agencies and child advocacy groups will give away free life jackets this weekend to help kids stay safe in and around bodies of water.
St. Petersburg and Treasure Island fire rescues, along with St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation and Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition, will hand out free life jackets on Saturday, March 9, at St. Petersburg Municipal Beach.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the beach, located at 11260 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island, according to a news release.
It's part of local agencies’ effort to curb drowning cases, which is the third leading cause of accidental death among children 5 to 19 years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Organizers will also distribute water safety information to go along with the safety gear while supplies last, according to the news release.
