Life jackets are available for public use at Oconee River Greenway Park

Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin and community partners dedicated a life jacket loaner station at Oconee River Greenway Park in Milledgeville on Wednesday to provide a lifesaving resource, just in time for summer.


Life jackets in various sizes, ranging from children to adults, plus ring buoys, will be available for the public to use for free. The life jacket station is located just outside the picnic area and near the boat ramp at the park.


After responding to multiple drownings at the park, Atrium Health Navicent EMS teammates started a conversation about making a difference, and offering life vests for park visitors. Through a community partnership, life jackets and ring buoys will be monitored for wear and tear, and replaced as needed. Community partners include Baldwin County, Baldwin County Fire Department, Baldwin County Coroner’s Office, City of Milledgeville, Milledgeville Police Department and Georgia Power.

“Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin is proud to be part of a solution to help prevent drownings and make it safer for park visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation,” said Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin Chief Operating Officer Thomas Goss. “We extend our thanks to the community partners who have come together to offer this new resource for park visitors.”


Aside from learning how to swim, wearing a life jacket is one of the most effective ways to prevent drowning. Children and weaker swimmers should always wear life jackets in and around pools and other bodies of water. Everyone, including children and adults, should wear life jackets whenever they are in open water or on watercraft.

For those headed out to explore lakes and rivers this summer, here are a few other important water safety tips:

Practice life-saving skills: Adults and older children should know how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Supervise children in water: When children are in or near water, they should always be supervised. Adults supervising should avoid distracting activities.

Avoid alcohol: Adults and teenagers should understand how using alcohol and drugs increases the risk of drowning while swimming or boating.

Make sure where you’re going is safe: Know the depth of the water and what’s on the bottom. If you dive into a river with rocks on the bottom, it could lead to spinal injuries, a concussion or broken bones. Keep in mind that rivers may have strong currents that aren’t visible from shore and rocks that could cause a swimmer’s foot to become trapped underwater.