Episode Details

The Note and Float Life Jacket Fund boosts water safety with life-saving donations

By Rachel Griffiths

Nearly two decades ago, the Note and Float program was created by Dr. Tom Griffiths while he served as the Director of Aquatics at Penn State University. The program is a free drowning-prevention strategy for facilities to adopt, identifying weak and inexperienced swimmers, and requiring them to wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. The program was piloted at Penn State. Beautiful life jackets in different pastel colors and sizes were displayed on a rack at the entrance of the Penn State Natatorium. In front of the rack was a 48” Note and Float logo children could use to measure themselves, or parents could use to help measure children, akin to a “you must be this tall to ride” sign at amusement parks. Non-swimmers and those under 48” were required to wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.