Guilford Mother Challenges Ban on Life Vests at Town Beaches

Guilford resident Victoria Jacobs says she was stunned to learn that the town prohibits the wearing of life vests at its town beaches, per a 1994 ordinance.

Jacobs daughter, who is 4-years-old, was told by a lifeguard recently that she needed to remove the vest or any other flotation device, the New Haven Register reports.

Town officials say the lifeguard did the right thing, and that the only way to allow the wearing of floatation devices is to change the ordinance.

The ordinance was enacted in 1994 because some aquatics experts believed the use of life vests creates a false sense of security for parents, and often those devices are not worn properly, which also leads to safety concerns.

Guilford officials say no other parent has complained about the ordinance.

Read the full New Haven Register story here.