The Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation recently announced a new partnership with Progressive Insurance that will allow the organization to supply life jackets to visitors to Lake Ouachita and other waterways across the state.

“To date the program has made available more than 5,450 adult life jackets for boaters to use at USACE life jacket loaner stations across the country,” a news release said.

The life jackets are provided at “USACE locations that have experienced the most water-related public recreation fatalities,” the release said.

The life jackets are free for visitors to borrow and return to the loaner station.

The jackets “will be located at USACE-managed facilities where they are accessible to boaters who may not be properly equipped,” the release said.

The life jackets provided are adult-sized because “USACE is one of the nation’s leading federal providers of outdoor and water-based recreation,” it said, noting a lack of life jackets correlates with increased risk of death on the water.

“According to USACE public recreation fatality statistics from the past 10 years, 86% were 18 and older, 88% were male and 89% were not wearing a life jacket,” it said.

“As the leader in boat insurance covering over 1.8 million watercraft, we want to make sure people are not only insured in the water, but also protected with the proper safety equipment,” Rick Stern, who serves as Progressive’s boat product manager, said in the release.

“Seeing the number of drownings that have happened in the last decade in 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,” Stern said.

Greg Miller, chairperson of The Corps Foundation, as CENREF is also known, lauded the insurance company for its contributions.

“We are grateful for Progressive’s generous support of this initiative,” Miller said in the release.

“Their commitment to enhancing boater safety is invaluable as we work together to help protect visitors at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes and river projects across the country.”