Life Jackets – Life Vest for Survival
Anytime anyone goes boating, there's a chance that someone, sometime, will fall overboard. If that someone is wearing a life jacket, what could have been have been a tragedy will likely be recalled as an adventure.
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They have been saving lives for more than 150 years yet never received an award for heroism. Thousands of people are living proof that they perform the important job for which they were designed. They are life jackets and vests – personal flotation devices (PFDs) – and they have been at the vanguard of lifesaving since 1852, when Congress passed the first law instructing river steamboats carry a life preserver or float for every passenger on board.
Today's life vests are the result of extensive research and development, geared not only to the sizes and ages of the wearer, but also designed for specific activities. Kayakers and water skiers, for example, require a less bulky vest that won't impede their range of motion and will fit with their equipment.
Life jackets are designed to keep your head above water, in a position that allows you to breathe properly. An average-size adult only needs artificial buoyancy of 7 to 12 pounds to remain afloat, and all U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs provide this amount and more, depending on the type.
When you purchase a life jacket, make sure the label states it is approved by the Coast Guard. Before buying, try on the vest to insure a good, appropriate fit for you and to fit the type of boating or water sport you are planning. Once purchased, care for your life jacket according to instructions, and never modify it to accommodate a weight change or fastening shortcut – it may affect the device's ability to do its job.
Do children need to wear a life jacket?
Yes. In fact Coast Guard and most states have laws that require it. Drowning can be silent, may take only a few minutes, and often happens even when an adult is nearby. It's difficult to keep a watch on your child every second, so for an extra measure of protection, fit your child with his own life jacket even when he's just playing near the water. Depending on your child's age and weight, life jackets should be worn according to the following Coast Guard recommendations (and state laws):
- Children from birth to age 5: on the beach, dock and in the boat.
- Children age 6 to 11: On the dock and riverbank, and in the boat and inner tube.
- Teens and adults should always wear PFDs while engaging in any water sport, on boats and inner tubes.
The U.S. Coast Guard requires that all recreational boats stock one Coast Guard-approved wearable PFD (Type I, II, III or Type V-PFD) for each person on board, in appropriate sizes for the intended users. . Boats 16 feet and over (other than kayaks and canoes) must also carry at least one throwable PFD (Type IV), such as a life ring or tube. PFDs are typed according to the level of buoyancy they provide. Visit the U. S. Coast Guard's boating safety website for detailed information on the many types and styles of approved PFDs, and the protection they provide.
All PFDs on board should be quickly, easily accessible – ready to put on in an emergency if not being worn routinely. They should not be packed away in plastic bags, stashed in closed or locked cabinets, or buried under other gear. The best life jacket is the one you will wear, preferably the entire time you are on board your boat, not just in the event of crisis.
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