SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Brian and Nathan Keese drowned on March 27, 2010, while on a fishing trip at Stockton Lake. Their family started the Brian and Nathan Keese Water Safety Organization in their memory. Now, two years later, they're working to put their life-saving campaigns on the books.
Right now, Missouri law requires children under 7 years of age to wear a life jacket. Every surrounding state requires them on kids 12 years and under.
Camilla Molica, who lost her husband and 8-year-old son, is calling for change. In the midst of their memory is a mystery.
"We don't understand why they didn't have them on," Molica said.
She says they usually did wear the life jackets, and she has evidence in many pictures.
Sudden winds apparently capsized Brian and Nathan's fishing boat. Now, three life jacket loaner boards stand in their memory at Stockton Lake, and another is at Pomme de Terre Lake.
"I just want to help educate people and hopefully save lives," said Molica.
She wants to not only encourage life jacket use, but change Missouri's law.
"Unfortunately, they're the best example in the world we could use," said Rep. Charlie Denison, R-Springfield.
The proposed legislation, HB 1452, would require anyone under 14 to wear a life jacket in a boat.
"He's going to be used to it at that age, and, I think, probably will never get in a boat without using some sort of safety device," said Denison.
Currently only those under 7 must put them on. Nathan was 8.
"If they fall off and hit their head on the boat, and fall overboard and don't have a life jacket on, and someone older tries to jump in and save them, what if it's really deep and they can't get them in time? If they'd had a life jacket on, it would have saved their lives," Molica said.
Accidental drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children 14 and under in the U.S.
"I get upset thinking about them every day," said Molica.
She hopes good can come from her grief to keep others safer.
"I do feel hopeful that it will, and, if it doesn't go through this time, we'll try again, definitely," said Molica.
The bill is in a committee. After having discussed it with Brian and Nathan Keese's family, Denison says he plans to lower the proposed age to 12, hoping for better response from legislators.
Brian and Nathan Keese Water Safety Organization website
Check the life jacket laws in other states here.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Patrol Division also encourages wearing life jackets.
