Tips for Picking the Right Life Jacket
We all love to focus on the fun aspects of boating – traveling to new ports, days spent landing a trophy fish or swimming in a quiet cove, socializing with friends onboard. But one thing that isn’t necessarily fun to think about – lifejackets – is the most important part of boating.
The statistics back that up. More than 80 percent of boaters who drown are not wearing life jackets. Half of those accidents happen when the water is calm. And most of those drowning victims could swim. The fact is, most fatal boating accidents are entirely preventable if people just wear a life jacket.
Thanks to new life jacket designs and technology, today’s PFDs are both stylish and comfortable, so there’s no excuse not to wear one. Many PFDs feel like you’re not wearing one at all. They are lightweight, allow a full range of motion, and many are even inflatable.
Your PFD has to be the right match for you for it to work properly. Here are a few tips for picking out and wearing a life jacket:
- Make sure your life jacket is Coast Guard-approved.
- Check the manufacturer’s label to make sure the jacket is a proper fit for you.
- Check that the jacket is appropriate for your activity.
- Make sure your jacket is properly fastened and that it doesn’t ride up over your chin or face.
- Make sure children are wearing properly fitted, child-sized life jackets.
