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Understanding US Coast Guard
Life Jacket Guidelines
Enjoying a day on a boat, out at sea or on a lake, is something a lot of people like to do. It's a great way to relax and take some good time, and certainly is something many people do while on vacation. But when you're on the water, there are rules to follow, and the main one is to wear a life jacket. It's a simple thing, but can save so many lives. The US Coast Guard published a lot of rules and guidelines that can help you stay safe. Here's the main points behind those guidelines so you can understand the life jacket rules.
Life jackets aren't just made to keep you at the surface of the water. They are made in a specific way, to keep your body in a specific position. By default, a life jacket will keep your head out of the water, which is what you want to survive at sea. This may seem like a silly thing, but if you're in a boat incident, and you end up unconscious, then you won't be able to keep your own head out of the water, hence the need for your life jacket to keep you that way. There's also many types of life jackets. Type I life jackets are meant for the open, rough sea. They are typically bigger and cover more of your body. They are good for 22 pounds of buoyancy, and are seen on people who go out to sea on large boats. Type II vests are for near shore trips, or inland water, and are more commonly seen on boats. Type III are the most comfortable vests because they are smaller, and are often the ones tourists wear when going on boat trips. They are good only if fast rescue is expected. Finally, Type V is a special case vest for workers, and for hybrid use.
Another thing to keep in mind about life jackets is the size. There's adult and children life jackets, and it's important to use the right size, otherwise the jacket could come right off when shaken too much. Children must wear life jackets as well, and there's strict laws about that in many states. But it's not enough to have a life jacket, proper maintenance must be done as well.
All life jackets should be tested in water once a year. They must be stored properly so they don't get damaged while on the boat. Any life jacket that's damaged or not in a good condition must be replaced. You should only use Coast Guard approved life jackets, to ensure that they provide proper protection should something happen, and they should be kept in an accessible location. They do nothing if they stay stored in a container, instead of being attached to someone.
Overall, it's not very complicated to follow the rules of life jackets. The rules are there to make sure everyone is safe, and has the right knowledge to ensure their survival should a boat go down, or something happen while on water. Don't forget that large bodies of water get cold very quickly, and having to spend hours in water will prevent you from doing much swimming, even if you're typically a good swimmer. CLICK HERE for more information about life jacket guidelines from the US Coast Guard.
- U.S. Coast Guard