“As the leader in boat insurance covering over 1.8 million watercraft, we want to make sure people are not only insured on the water, but also protected with the proper safety equipment,” said Rick Stern, boat product manager at Progressive. “Seeing the number of drownings that have happened in the last decade on waterways across the country, we are proud to work with The Corps Foundation to support the availability of life jackets that can help reduce these tragedies and allow communities to enjoy safer times on the water.”

It only takes an average of 60 seconds for an adult to drown, the USACE warns. Wearing a life jacket when on a boat can protect the rider from unexpected slips or falls overboard, as it gives them more time to be rescued. Even the strongest swimmers can have accidents that impair their abilities or can tire while in the water, so no one should assume they are too skilled to wear a life jacket.