Life Jackets Save Lives

Summer is officially here and we are all looking forward to spending more time out on our boats. With that being said, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, 90 percent of the people who drown in a boating or water accident would be alive today if they had been wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. Wow! Fun in the sun can turn deadly if we are not practicing proper boat safety. We want to stress the importance of wearing a life jacket. Who should wear a life jacket? What type of life jacket do you need to carry on your boat? We have the answers to these questions.

Who must wear a PFD (life jacket)?

• Children less than 6 years of age must wear a Type I or Type II PFD when riding in the open deck area of a boat.
• Each person 12 years of age or older operating, riding on or being towed behind a personal watercraft (jet ski) must wear a Type I, Type II or Type III PFD (that is not an inflatable device).
• Each person less than 12 years of age riding or being towed, behind a personal watercraft (jet ski) must wear a Type I or Type II PFD.

What type of PFD do I need to carry on my boat in Michigan?

• Vessels less than 16 feet (including canoes and kayaks) must be equipped with one Type I, II, III or IV PFD for each person on board.
• The U.S. Guard requires all vessels less than 16 feet, used on the Great Lakes or connecting waterways, to carry one approved Type I, II, or III device for each person on board.
• Vessels 16 feet and longer, in addition to the Type I, II, or III for each person on board must carry one type IV. (Canoes and kayaks over 16 feet are exempt from the Type IV requirement.)

Do you know the difference between the types of PFD’s? If not, no worries. We have them listed for you below.

TYPE I

(Off-Shore Life Jacket) (22 lbs. Buoyancy) Best for open, rough or remote water where rescue may be slow in coming.

Advantages: Turns most unconscious wearers face-up in water. Highly visible color. Floats the person the best.

Disadvantages: Bulky.

Sizes: Two sizes to fit most children and adults.

TYPE II

(Near-Shore Buoyant Vest) (15.5 lbs. Buoyancy) Good for calm, inland water or where there is good chance of fast rescue.

Advantages: Turns some unconscious wearers face-up in water. Less bulky, more comfortable than Type I PFD. Inexpensive.

Disadvantages: Not for long hours in the water. Will not turn some unconscious wearers face-up in water.

Sizes: Infant, Child Small, Child Medium, Adult.

TYPE III

(Flotation Aid) (15.5 lbs. Buoyancy) Good for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of fast rescue.

Advantages: Generally the most comfortable type for continuous wear. Freedom of movement for most active water sports. Available in many styles. Freedom of movement for water-skiing, small boat, sailing, fishing, etc.

Disadvantages: Wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid going facedown. In rough water, a wearer's face may often be covered by waves. Not for extended survival in rough water.

TYPE IV

(Throwable Device) For calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby.

Advantages: Can be thrown to someone. Good back-up wearable PFDs. Some can be used as a seat cushion.

Kinds: Cushions, Rings and Horseshoe buoys.

Disadvantages: Not for unconscious persons. Nor for non-swimmers or children. Not for many hours in rough water.

Stay Safe While Boating and Wear a Life Jacket
Remember to always wear a life jacket. A life jacket should be readily available for every person aboard your boat and stored properly for easy access. It should fit each passenger properly. It’s a good idea to test life jackets once a year for wear and buoyancy. Replace them immediately if they are waterlogged or leak. Also, all PFDs must be ready at hand and not enclosed in plastic bags or other containers.

Life Jackets for Kids

Safety and life jackets are the first key steps to any great boating experience. Knowing that everyone on board is safe makes for a more enjoyable day on the water – but what about kids? We’ve all heard it, “my jacket is too itchy, my jacket is too hot,” or, “why do I have to wear this stupid thing?” How can a day on the water be enjoyable while listening to your child complain all day long? Well, it can be, because there are so many life jacket options for your child, whether an infant, toddler or pre-teen/youth. Taking the necessary precautions and steps to make sure your child has the proper life jacket and fit for them will make a world of difference. 

First and foremost, if your child is old enough to understand, then sitting them down and explaining to them why life jackets are so crucial will help them tremendously. Pre-teens/youth are probably the worst when it comes to complaining. But if they can understand the reasoning behind life jackets and know that it’s not just some evil plan devised by their parents to make them miserable all day, it’s easier for them to cope. The bulk of all drownings do not occur out to sea, but in shallow inland waters involving boats under 20-feet long. Unfortunately, most drowning victims had a life jacket on the boat, but never chose to, or were made to, wear it. Make sure you always choose safety first!

Making sure your children are wearing the proper clothing under their life jackets will help them become more comfortable while wearing their jacket. Wear clothes made with material that is light weight and breathes easily, such as cotton. Your child’s jacket should also fit snuggly to their body. A great test to make sure they are fitted properly is to have your child put their life jacket on and then pick them up by the shoulders of the life jacket. If their chin and ears do not slip through the jacket, and the jacket remains snug to their body, then the jacket is properly fitted.

There are many different life jacket options for children, even small infants (though it is not always recommended to take small infants onboard a boat). You’ll want to consider purchasing a life jacket with a ‘heads- up’ collar for infants, smaller children/toddlers, and children who do not know how to swim. These life vests ensure that your child’s face will be turned up and away from the water when they fall in or should they be knocked unconscious. When fitted properly, these life vests should not cause any major discomfort to your child. 

Many older children and youth believe that all life jackets are huge and uncomfortable for good reason – they’ve never seen all of the options!  Life jackets are now made to be comfortable and easy to wear – there are even some jackets that come in customizable colors, depending on your style. Some life jackets have mesh backs and many are created to breathe easier, all while keeping its user safe.  Research your options online or stop by our pro-shop to find the best fit for your child.

Every life jacket has a weight and buoyancy limit, so be careful when choosing which life jacket to buy. You’ll want to invest in life jackets that are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. All children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket at all times unless in a cabin or below deck. Each state varies with the age limit, so be sure to check your individual state for more information.

You’ll want to test every life jacket before sailing off in your boat. Take your child into a shallow area of water and have them lay down to test their jacket. While even a heads-up collar is a wonderful life saver for children, it may not guarantee that your child’s face will be turned away from the water if they are frantically swinging their arms and legs around in panic. Be sure to teach your child the proper things to do should they fall into the water, by keeping their bodies (especially their arms and legs) still and relaxed.  Explain to them that life jackets are used to help us in these situations, and the only thing they need to do is stay still and calm so that they can be quickly retrieved. 

Once everyone on board is equipped with their properly fitted and pre-tested life jackets, it’s time to head onto the water.  It’s a win-win situation – save a life by taking the necessary precautions ahead of time, and have a relaxing day with a very happy ending. They’ll have nothing to complain about, except for the fact that no one wants the day to end.