Courtesy National Safe Boating Council
Talk about your needless and avoidable tragedies — according to recent U.S. Coast Guard accident statistics, drowning is the reported cause of death in 80 percent of all boating fatalities and 83 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket. That’s about 500 people in the U.S. who die every year because they failed to put on a life jacket.
Some of those who accidentally died may have been experienced swimmers, but knowing how to swim won’t prevent a drowning death if you’ve lost consciousness or limb function after plunging into cold water. You need something more to keep you afloat until rescuers can save you… something you should have been wearing from the start.
Drowning prevention begins with properly equipping your vessel. All skippers must have wearable life jackets for each person aboard, but “wearable” doesn’t equal “proper.” The days of heading to the boating supply store and buying boxy foam life preservers in bulk are long gone; choosing the proper life jacket these days takes knowledge and effort. However, it’s an investment that pays off by greatly minimizing the risk of drowning for passengers and crew.
When stocking up on life jackets, enlist the help of a knowledgeable marine retailer and keep this saying in mind: three rights can save a life. In other words, a life jacket
must be the right type for the activity, the right fit, and in the right spot.
Type
Match the manufacturer’s designations with the type of boating you do. Calm water paddlers don’t require the type of jacket designed for open water boaters and those who water ski near a beach have different options than those who cruise offshore. Choose a jacket that withstands the most impact and offers maximum protection for your chosen activity. Dive down further and seek designs that cater to specific niches, such as a high-cut waist for kayaking or an integrated harness for tethering to a sailboat. Note: Inflatable life jackets or harnesses are unsuitable for active watersports as they activate when they get wet.
Size
Life jackets are not all unisex and uniform; within the type of jackets made for your boating activity you’ll find jackets contoured for your body type, customized for kids, crafted for physical limitations, and comfortable enough for companion animals.
Manufacturers have recommended height and weight ranges, but just as with any other garment, you need to try it on. Adjust the jacket and buckle or click it snugly and
then ask a shopping companion or salesperson for help. Hold your arms above your head as the other person tugs upwards from the tops of the armholes. If a gentle tug causes the jacket to lift over your chin (or higher), try a smaller size or move on to another style or manufacturer.
When it comes to life jackets for kids and companion animals, those that have handles for grabbing and hanging on are your first consideration. Thereafter, consider comfort and mobility — if they can’t move about on land in the jacket without rubbing or flapping, they can’t swim in it. Parents, now is not the time to pick a battle: if your child insists on a jacket you think is hideous, give in. Buying the one the kid adores gets you halfway to wearing it without a fight.
If your dog has a heavy coat that is shaved for the summer, never take him or her to
the marine store in winter. You’ll end up with a life jacket that is too loose.
Avoid introducing a small child or furry family member to a life jacket for the first time on the boat. Let them get used to wearing these unfamiliar items in familiar places, preferably at home. Re-check fit in shallow water before heading out for a day of boating.
Location
Requirements vary between states as to who must wear a life jacket on a vessel (except in an enclosed cabin or below deck). Whatever the case may be where you boat, the truth is that life jackets can’t save lives while stowed in a box or hanging from a hook. If staying alive is the prize, you have to be in it to win it!
The captain must ensure jackets are readily accessible and everyone aboard must know the exact location. Check jackets before each outing to ensure that straps aren’t twisted or tied and unwrap plastic and remove manufacturer’s tags from new jackets.
Mark names boldly on the outside of life jackets designated for your boat’s regular passengers and crew. Have more life jackets than you need in various sizes for new passengers. Help them select the best jackets when they board the boat and explain how providing life jackets means you want them to survive any mishap and stay alive.
More info:
http://www.uscgboating.org/images/howtochoosetherightlifejacket_brochure.pdf
http://boatbeat.org/fact-sheets/broad-overview-of-state-requirements-for-life-jackets/
