Youth and teen boaters can get a free McDonald's ice cream cone for wearing their life jacket on the water. Conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will be handing out vouchers all summer.Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Starting this weekend, youth and teens who wear a life jacket while boating could receive free McDonald’s ice cream.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has teamed up with McDonald’s of Michigan to increase boater safety awareness and encourage youth and teens to wear their life jackets while on the water.
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, conservation officers will pass out vouchers to youth and teens seen appropriately wearing a life jacket while boating. The vouchers are valid for a free ice cream cone or apple slice package at participating McDonald’s of Michigan locations.
“A fun day of boating begins with safety. A tasty treat on the way home is a great way to end the day,” said Lt. Tom Wanless, state boating law administrator and recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor with the DNR. “We hope parents will use this as an opportunity to discuss the importance of boating safety with their kids.”
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Boating with an operator who has completed an approved boating safety course and wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket are two ways to reduce the risk of recreational boating accidents and drownings, the DNR said.
“Taking time to make sure you’re boating safely now can prevent potential problems later,” Wanless said. “Accidents can happen at any time and weather can quickly affect water conditions on inland waters and the Great Lakes. Familiarizing yourself and your fellow boaters with valuable safety tips and equipment can mean the difference between a great day on the water and a needlessly tragic outcome.”
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Anyone born after June 30, 1996, needs a boating safety certificate to legally operate a boat in Michigan. Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1978, needs a boater safety certificate to legally operate a personal watercraft, such as a Jet Ski.
The DNR offers boating safety education as an online and traditional classroom course to teach new and experienced boaters about current laws and basic survival skills.
Even those who aren’t required to take the course should get up to date on boating laws before leaving shore, Wanless said. He also said to inspect watercrafts and safety equipment to ensure they’re in shipshape.
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