The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is revitalizing a statewide program aimed at preventing drownings and other water-related injuries, with hundreds of new life jackets being made available to people enjoying Georgia’s lakes, rivers and other waterways.

DNR announced the renewed effort through its SPLASH water safety initiative, a program focused on education, prevention, partnerships and public outreach. The agency says the goal is to create a coordinated statewide effort encouraging Georgians and visitors to take basic precautions while swimming, boating and participating in other activities on the water.

A major part of the renewed effort comes through a partnership with Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. The organization contributed more than $11,000 to purchase 470 life jackets, enough to completely restock all 44 DNR-managed Life Jacket Loaner Kiosks across Georgia.

The loaner kiosks allow visitors who don’t have a life jacket with them to borrow one at no cost while participating in water activities and return it afterward. The program is intended to make properly fitted flotation devices more readily available to families and individuals visiting Georgia waterways.

Georgia DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon said the donation will increase access to properly fitted life jackets and strengthen the state’s overall water-safety efforts.

Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites President and CEO Damon Kirkpatrick said helping people safely enjoy Georgia’s waterways fits with the organization’s mission of protecting and enhancing outdoor experiences.

The renewed SPLASH initiative comes as DNR works to strengthen partnerships with organizations involved in water safety and drowning prevention. DNR says the broader effort is designed not only to provide equipment but also to increase public awareness about precautions that can prevent water-related tragedies.

The SPLASH message emphasizes several basic principles of water safety, including supervision, prevention, wearing a life jacket, staying within arm’s length of children or inexperienced swimmers, taking swim lessons and having a water-safety plan.

DNR officials say properly fitted life jackets are particularly important because emergencies on the water can develop quickly, even for experienced swimmers and boaters.

With the addition of the 470 new life jackets, all 44 DNR-operated loaner kiosks across Georgia are now fully restocked as the state works to make water recreation safer for residents and visitors.