OPP rewarding kids ‘caught’ wearing lifejackets

A new campaign will see OPP officers rewarding children for wearing a personal flotation device this summer.

The campaign, called I got caught wearing my lifejacket, is the OPP's newest tactic to get kids to wear lifejackets while on the water.   

Const. Diana Cole said the campaign is geared toward children 16-years-old and younger. 

If the kids in the boat are found wearing their lifejacket, OPP officers will give them a free T-shirt. The Thunder Bay detachment and local officials with Ontario Power Generation decided to implement the program after seeing its success in southern Ontario. 

While Cole said most parents are putting their kids in lifejackets, she added that rewarding them at a young age will teach them better habits for boating safety.

The program began this past weekend, and will continue until the end of the season.