1. Upstate organization providing complimentary life vests for kids
2. Free life preservers for children available from Upstate organization.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
ABBEVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A dedicated dive team in the Upstate is using their spare time to ensure the safety of children on local shores by providing life-saving jackets.
Known as Lake Hartwell Divers, this team offers search and rescue services in the area. The founder, Jeremy D. Robinson, also serves as an investigator with the Abbeville Co. Sheriff’s Office.
Even during his off-duty hours, Robinson remains committed to making the Upstate community a safer place.
“We actively patrol the area, looking out for children in the water without life jackets,” Robinson explained while driving through Singing Pines Recreation Area on Lake Hartwell.
When Robinson and his team spot children without proper safety gear, they approach their families and offer them comfortable, colourful Coast Guard-approved jackets. They even have life jackets available for babies.
Robinson emphasised the importance of ensuring children have adequate protection in the water, stating, “Children can drown in just two feet of water, and it can happen silently. They may not even cry out for help—it’s absolute silence.”
Over the past three summers, Lake Hartwell Divers has donated approximately £5,000 to £7,000 worth of life jackets to the community.
One grateful parent, Kari Tucker, expressed her appreciation for the life jacket given to her young baby, saying, “I think it’s amazing that something as simple as a life jacket can potentially save her life.”
Robinson echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s a great feeling to be able to make a positive impact on children’s safety. In today’s world, we don’t hear enough positive stories.”
The initiative to provide life jackets stemmed from a tragic incident. According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4. This sobering statistic hit close to home for Robinson when he recovered a 3-year-old girl named Asher Nora Smith from Lake Succession in 2021.
Tragically, Asher passed away after falling into the water on May 29, 2021. Robinson vividly recalled the heartbreaking moment, saying, “After I pulled her out of the water, I cradled her in a blanket until the ambulance arrived.”
Asher, known for her pink cowgirl boots, was from a family that prioritised water safety. Despite their precautions, one accident changed everything for them.
The loss of Asher deeply affected Robinson, but it also fuelled his determination to prevent similar tragedies. He shared, “I made a promise to myself that if I could save just one child from drowning, it would be worth it.”
Robinson and his team are unwavering in their commitment to providing life jackets to children in need, regardless of their background or circumstances. As Robinson stated, “We don’t discriminate based on where they come from or their financial status. If we see a child without a life jacket, we will make sure they receive one.”
To support Robinson’s mission, Lake Hartwell Divers has set up a GoFundMe page and an Amazon Wish List for those who wish to contribute to providing life jackets to children in the community.
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1. Life jackets for children
2. Free life jackets Upstate organization.