The US Coast Guard requires that children under the age of 13 wear a life jacket whenever they are on an underway boat. Yet there are as many types of life jackets as there are types of boats. This can make finding the right life jacket for your child seem overwhelming. The Sea Tow Foundation has simplified the procedure to just 4 steps to make sure you choose the life jacket that is right for your child.
Watch the video here.
STEP 1: CHECK THE LABEL FOR APPROVAL Check the label inside the life jacket to make sure it is US Coast Guard approved. Also, ensure that the life jacket is rated for the type of boating activity that your child will be participating in such as calm water canoeing or fishing from a pontoon boat vs. rougher water activities such as riding a PWC or waterskiing.
STEP 2: CHECK THE SIZE ON THE LABEL Life jackets are sized by weight and chest size, so make sure that the child’s size fits into the restrictions of the life jacket.
STEP 3: TRY IT ON Buckle and/or zip up the life jacket and make sure the straps are snug. Then, pull up on the shoulders of the life jacket from behind the child to make sure the life jacket doesn’t go above the child’s chin or ears. If it does, it’s too big and the straps should be made tighter, or the child should move to the next size down.
STEP 4: TEST THE LIFE JACKET IN THE WATER When you are near calm water, the child should try on the life jacket to see how well it floats. This will also help prevent the child from being scared if she ends up in the water unexpectedly.
REMEMBER: Life jackets aren’t like winter coats. You can’t buy a larger size and let your child eventually grow into it. If you put them in a life jacket that is too big, the child will slip out of the life jacket. Getting a life jacket that properly fits your child is critical for safety. Once your child outgrows his life jacket, you can donate it to the Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Drive so that another family can borrow it for their child to use.
To learn more about the Sea Tow Foundation visit boatingsafety.com
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Updated: Monday, February 22, 2021
Video Blog
The Sea Tow FoundationTM accepts donations of new and gently used life jackets in our Life Jacket Drive Program. Before adding the donated life jackets to the life jacket loaner stands, they go through a 5-point inspection using a checklist to ensure that they are safe and ready to be used.
The following video walks you through the checklist and shows what to look for when inspecting a life jacket and how to know if you find something wrong with a life jacket. Click here to download the checklist.
If your life jacket does not meet even one of the items on the checklist, you should discard the life jacket and ensure that it is not going to be used by anyone. This can be done by cutting it into pieces before putting it in the trash. And, the Sea Tow Foundation also reused the discarded life jackets and repurposed them into a craft project in one of our craft blogs.
If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a
donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts
to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate
securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.
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