Buckle Up Little Boaters
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By: John Malatak, Chief of Program Operations, U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division
February, 2010
The Coast Guard recommends that boaters wear a life jacket at all times on the water, regardless of age. State PFD laws vary by the age of the child and the length of the boat, so you should check with your state boating agency or the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (www.nasbla.org) for information on state requirements.
Height and weight can vary widely within age groups, so it’s important to take your child along for a life jacket fitting. Remember that swim aids and water wings are toys and do not meet safety requirements. Children’s jackets are constructed to provide extra protection. Many models for infants and toddlers have built-in head support that will turn the wearer face-up in the water, and most are built with extra buoyancy or other safety features just for children.
Look for the U.S. Coast Guard approval label on the inside of the life jacket. This tells you the jacket has passed stringent tests for safety and durability. Check the label and match your child’s weight to the range listed.
Make sure the jacket is securely buckled, and test it for a snug fit.
See More PhotosAlthough some children in the 30- to 50-pound weight range who can swim enjoy the freedom of movement that a Type III life vest provides, most children in this weight range - especially those who can’t swim - should wear a Type II life jacket.
Getting a good fit is important. Unlike shoes, a child’s life jacket should fit snugly from day one. Don’t make the mistake of buying a life jacket that a child will “grow into.”
To check for a good fit, put the life jacket on your child and then lift him or her by the shoulders of the jacket. If the jacket fits correctly, it will not ride up and the child’s chin and ears will not slip through.
Once a life jacket is purchased, make sure your child feels comfortable wearing it. With the jacket on, conduct a “float test” in a secure, non-boating setting such as a swimming pool, and teach your child how to float in a relaxed, face-up position.
Trying it out under controlled conditions will mean less anxiety for both of you should the child accidentally fall in the water. If you set a good example by wearing your own life jacket at all times on or near the water, your child will consider always wearing a life jacket as the natural thing to do.
Be sure to recheck the jacket’s fit at the start of every boating season to see if it’s time for a new one. Never try to make do by putting an adult life jacket on a child. The jacket has to be snug so your child doesn’t slip through.
Can’t afford life jackets? Need them just for the day? The Boat U.S. Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Program offers infants’, toddlers’ and children’s life jackets at more than 350 locations nationwide. Many state and local boating organizations also loan life jackets for children and adults. To find a loaner site in your area, visit www.BoatUS.com/foundation/ljlp or check with your local marina.