JACKETS 4 Jackson. "JD's ROAR"

Four-year-old Jackson "JD" Lyons was ice fishing with his dad on a Michigan lake in early February 2016. On the way back to shore, just feet from the shoreline, JD fell through the ice and submerged. JD's dad, David Lyons, dove several times trying desperately to save his son. Eventually, David did not resurface. Both father and son drowned and were later recovered by divers.

If JD had been wearing a life jacket that day, it is very likely that his dad would have been able to locate him and pull him from the water. It is also likely that David Lyons would still be alive today. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) should amend its life jacket rules to include life jacket use while "riding in or on a vessel on ice" or "walking on ice" for children under twelve. It is our hope that with this change, no other Michigan family will have to suffer the tragic loss of life by drowning under ice.

Please sign this petition to urge the DNR to amend its existing life jacket rules to include ice.