WILL A LIFE JACKET KEEP YOU AFLOAT HOW TO

Next, check that it's in serviceable condition that all the buckles and zippers work properly. And read the label to ensure that it's US Coast Guard-approved. For foam-filled vests, yellow or orange is a good color, while inflatables can be any color on the outside because their bright yellow air chambers are concealed within the outer shell. 'Life Jackets' video courtesy of America's Boating Channelįirst, ensure that your life jacket will be bright and visible in the water. The boat operator's responsibilities to passengers and crew.

WILL A LIFE JACKET KEEP YOU AFLOAT HOW TO

How to ensure your life jacket fits well.How to ensure that your life jacket is serviceable.How to choose the right life jacket for your boat and planned activity.How to Prevent Common Life Jacket Failures Leaving one or more straps, zippers, or ties unfastened.Selecting a life jacket that does not fit you properly.Using a life jacket that is unsuitable for your intended activity or water environment.Skipping the routine care and maintenance of your life jacket or ignoring its condition.Choosing a life jacket that is not US Coast Guard-approved.Choosing a life jacket that is not easily visible to rescuers and other boaters when you're in the water.Allowing children to wear adult life jackets.And as you'll learn in this post, knowing what to look for, and why it's important, will go a long way toward keeping you and your passengers out of harm's way. These are the items that round out the rest of our list. In fact, putting one on while you're in the water can be difficult at best and sometimes impossible in dire situations such as cold/frigid water, high waves, fast-moving rapids, or when the person in the water is intoxicated or unconscious.įor those of you who wear them regularly, be aware that there are a few things you might be overlooking that can cause your life jacket to let you down when you need it most. See ' Which persons in your state are required to wear a PFD and under what circumstances?' for details about the laws in your state.īut simply having personal flotation devices, or PFDs, on board is not enough.Īccidents on the water happen much too quickly to reach a stowed life jacket and put it on. Coast Guard safety equipment list, and operators are required to have Coast Guard-approved life jackets on board for every person on their boat. Life jackets are prominently identified on the U.S. That's why not wearing a life jacket holds the Number 1 position on our list. And while it only takes sixty seconds for an adult to drown, that time decreases to just twenty seconds for a child. Statistically, more than half of those who survive drowning - and are treated in an emergency room - require further hospitalization. In the cases where life jacket useage was known, nearly 85% of these drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Coast Guard, 76% of fatal boating accident victims in 2017 drowned. Top 8 Preventable Life Jacket Fails and What to Do About It By DAN BoaterĪccording to the U.S.

Will a life jacket keep you afloat