Check out this free giveaway. Water safety top focus at Myrtle Beach, SC boat show.
All children 12-years-old and under will get a free life jacket this year at the Grand Strand Boat and Sportsman’s Expo in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The annual boat show, now in it’s 40th year, expects to host more than 8,000 boating and sporting enthusiasts this weekend with 16 boat dealers, 60 vendors and fishing seminars offered throughout the weekend.
Kevin Bennett, general manager of the expo, said the “Give a kid a vest campaign,” started because he and his friends in the industry recognized a need as more boaters take to local waterways.
“It just seemed like every weekend this summer, we’d see someone drown,” Bennett said.
As he talked the issue over with other members of the boating industry, they felt like this was something they could do that might save lives.
According to Bennett, hundreds of high quality children’s life vests have been donated from industry sponsors with a value of about $30 a piece. With support of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the SCDNR, children who are accompanied by a parent or guardian will be fitted for their vests and given instruction on their use.
Children must be present with their guardians to receive the vest. Bennett said it is important that the children be there to be fitted because the kids are much more likely to keep their vest on if they fit properly.
The 2024 Grand Strand Boat and Sportsman Expo will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center from Friday, Jan. 5 through Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, children under 12 are $5 and under children age 3 are free. Visit the website for more information including seminars and times.
This story was originally published January 3, 2024 at 5:00 AM.