Life Jacket Safety: A Guide
It’s not the most fashionable item to wear on the water, but a life jacket could very well save your life. In 2022, a staggering 85% of drowning victims involved in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.
You may think, ‘I’m a strong swimmer...’, or ‘Nothing will ever happen to me...’, but expect the unexpected when you’re participating in water activities to save yourself from becoming a statistic. The United States Coast Guard requires all life jackets, or Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs), to be evaluated and tested for their buoyancy and structure before being put on retail shelves.
Types of life jackets
There are five different types of life jackets meant for various activities. Some are more common than others, but all types are important and should be chosen based on the user’s activity, ability, and age.
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Type I life jackets are intended for use when cruising, racing, or fishing in open or rough water. This type of life jacket will turn most users face-up in the water if they become unconscious.
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Type II life jackets are intended to be worn for inland cruising, fishing, and sailing. This type of jacket is more comfortable than Type I, but provides less floatation. Most infant life jackets will be Type II.
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Type III life jackets are intended for supervised activities like water skiing, fishing, canoeing, jet-skiing, and kayaking. This type is typically more comfortable and easier to move around in. Most children and youth should wear Type III U.S. Coast Guard-approved jackets.
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Type IV PFDs are intended to be held or thrown instead of worn. This device can be a square cushion or a ring buoy kept on the boat deck. These should be easily accessible on deck in case of emergency.
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Type V life jackets are for special use and are usually used with other floatation devices like a rafting vest, sailboard harness, or paddling vest.
Life jacket requirements by state
If you’re planning a boating trip into a different state, be aware that some life jacket laws may be different from what you’re used to. Make sure you know the life jacket laws of the state you’re visiting. The minimum age required to wear a life jacket is often different in most states—this is especially important if you have infants or young children. In states where no children’s life jacket laws are in effect, a U.S. Coast Guard rule requires children 13 and younger to wear a USCG-approved life jacket while on moving boats.
Alabama
Who? Children under the age of 8 are required to wear a life jacket.
When? At all times while on any vessel.
What kind? U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III. Must fit the user properly and be in good condition.
Georgia
Who? Children under the age of 13 are required to wear a life jacket.
When? While on any moving vessel.
What kind? Any U.S. Coast Guard-approved jacket. Must fit the user properly and be in good condition.
Mississippi
Who? Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a life jacket.
When? While aboard the open area of any vessel on Mississippi waters.
What kind? Type I, II, or III.
When to wear a life jacket
The American Red Cross recommends the following guidelines for when and how to wear a life jacket.
Everyone should wear a life jacket in the following scenarios:
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In the ocean or on open water
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When boating, water skiing, or any water-based sport
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Near cold water or ice
In addition, small children and inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets any time they’re near water, including pools and waterparks.
How to wear a life jacket
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Choose the right life jacket for your activity. Life jackets come in all types of designs and are made differently based on their intended use.
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Make sure the jacket is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Look for the stamp on the jacket.
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Check the label for weight and size limits, and make sure it fits the user.
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Test the straps and buckles to make sure they all work properly. If a jacket has torn fabric or loose straps that can’t be tightened, throw it out.
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Practice swimming while wearing the life jacket in a safe area before wearing it for more adventurous activities.
For more information, the U.S. Coast Guard has a very detailed life jacket safety page on their website, as well as a brochure on how the choose the right life jacket.
Boating safety is very important, so if there’s ever a question of whether or not you should wear a life jacket, play it safe and put one on anyways. As the saying goes, the best time to wear a life jacket is before it’s needed. Follow this pearl of wisdom for your safety as well as those around you whenever water is part of your plans.
You can have extra peace of mind while on the water by protecting your watercraft and yourself from potential accidents, lawsuits, and medical bills with a watercraft insurance policy from Alfa®. Contact your local Alfa agent to learn about your coverage options today.