| Brian and Nathan Keese Water Safety Group |
Brian and nathan Keese Water safety group On March 27, 2010, Brian (36) and Nathan (8) Keese were in a tragic, yet preventable drowning accident while on a father/son fishing trip to Stockton Lake, MO. Water temperatures were in the 30's and they weren't wearing life jackets. The Missouri law only requires children aged 6 and under to wear a life jacket, so they were in compliance with the law. The Brian and Nathan Keese Water Safety Group is advocating for a law change to comply with the U.S. Coast Guard regulation, which states that children 12 and under are required to wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
"We believe that education is key in changing our culture concerning water safety. We want to make waters safer by promoting life jacket use by all persons while underway on any water vessel and educating others on related subjects, such as cold water dangers in open waters, weather awareness, and how detrimental drinking while boating can be (BUI)", say Craig Keese, founder of the group.
The Brian and Nathan Keese Water Safety Group also focuses on ensuring that life jackets are available to be borrowed. They established life jacket loaner stations in Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Starting in 2019, the group started working with the Sea Tow Foundation to help add new loaner stations and to restock the existing stations. And, in 2021, the Sea Tow Foundation took over the overisght of these life jacket loaner stations and works directly with the various groups and agencies who host and maintain the individual locations. Help add more life jacket loaner stations by making a tax-deductiable donation today and add a note in the comments that this donation is in memory of Brian and Nathan Keese. Additional information can be found in the articles below as well as the video that was recorded of Craig Keese. https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/for-safe-summer-on-the-water-wear-a-life-jacket https://www.boatingsafety.com/blogpost/1846994/342450/Getting-Ready-for-Boating-Season-2020
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