Life Jacket Safety

Summertime is fast approaching, and there’s no better activity for family bonding than a day of boating. Choosing the correct personal flotation device (PFD) for your child will likely be the best way to ensure a good, safe time on the water.

A PFD is a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket that allows a boater to remain afloat and, in some cases, retain heat. Tragically, drowning generally is a silent event that can take a little more than four minutes and, surprisingly, it often occurs when an adult or guardian is in proximity.

Of course, it’s almost impossible to supervise your kid every waking minute. Kids age five years and younger should always be wearing a PFD when near water; be it on banks, beaches, docks and in boats. Between the ages of 6 and 11, jackets should be worn on docks, boats, tow-toys and riverbanks. If you go boating with any regularity, though, you may want to invest in a PFD because there might not always be a correctly fitting lifejacket available for renting or borrowing, and using a jacket that doesn’t fit will compromise your little ones’ safety.

Types of Lifejackets

There are five basic types of PFDs, but only Type II and Type III are particularly relevant for most common boating situations. The Type II jackets are ideal for inland boating in calm waters, where quick rescue is a viable possibility. The smaller versions of these jackets usually have high collars to assist in preventing your kid’s face from being submerged.

On the other hand, Type III PFDs offer comparable flotation to the aforementioned jackets, but they also provide more comfort and freer range of motion. These jackets are also available in myriad styles and sizes, ranging from PFDs for small children through full-grown adults. They’re also ideally used in calm waters where chances of rescue are expedient, but probably better used in offshore than Type II jackets.

When buying a lifejacket, check for:

• A Coast Guard-approved tag — Much like you’d check a motorcycle helmet for a DOT label, you’ll want to check any new PFD for one of these tabs. This is especially true for new products that may not fully resemble a conventional PDF, such as jackets that kids wear like swim suits.

• An excellent, tight fit — The jacket’s label should indicate the appropriate size and weight for its wearer. Assuming it’s a proper fit, the jacket shouldn’t slip over the neck, much less the chin or ears.

• Neck and head support (younger children) — Better quality PFDs should support your kid’s head and neck when submerged.

• Strap that runs between the legs (vest-style PFDs) — Although not absolutely necessary, the strap increases the vest’s safety, because it will decrease the likelihood of the vest slipping off when in the water.

• Style and comfort — While this may seem to be trivial, older kids and adolescents are more likely to wear a PFD if it looks cool and is sleekly designed.

Using a PFD

Prior to setting out on the water, you should always inspect PFDs for their fit and condition. Be a role model by wearing your own PFD, and to increase readiness in event of an emergency. Be sure to avoid using flotation toys such as plastic rings or water wings instead of a PFD.