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Issue Date: June 28, 2009
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5 things
you need to
know about |
Life jackets
1. Inflatables offer about 50% more flotation than regular life jackets, and their increased buoyancy improves survivability in rough waters because they float higher.
2. Check the label to make sure your life jacket is Coast Guard-approved. For more details, visit boatsafe.com. The Coast Guard categorizes life jackets by type. Type I has more buoyancy than Type II. But Type III can be more comfortable than Types I and II and comes in more sizes. They all have pros and cons associated with them.
3. Life jackets wear out even if they're not in use. If the fabric has faded from sun exposure, be wary.
4. Not wearing one could be illegal. Some states require them for adults who are water-skiing, white-water rafting and operating personal watercraft. In states without child life jacket laws, federal law requires that kids under 13 wear one in a recreational boat that is underway, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
5. Fit matters, especially with children. To check, pick a child up by the shoulders of the life jacket. If his or her chin or ears can slip through, the jacket doesn't fit properly.
-- Mary Forsell
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