BE A SMARTER BOATER

Enough news stories conveying drowning victims who weren’t wearing life jackets have proven we need to move past the, “I’ll put it on If I need it.” way of thinking. Let’s all be smarter, better boaters.

Advocates talk to boaters about “safety and fun as one.” It can be done!  

It’s not easy, some would argue nearly impossible, to put on a life jacket after a boating accident or going overboard while treading water, or worse … drowning. In many cases, it’s just too late. 

Don’t get us wrong, it is great you have all those life jackets neatly tucked away, one for every person on board (just in case you get pulled over). This is your friendly reminder that if everyone on board gets thrown overboard who is tossing out those jackets to all your friends and family? 

It’s pretty simple. “Safety and fun as one can be done.” 

The organization, Stop Drowning Now, reminds us:

• 10 people drown every day.
• Drowning is fast and SILENT! It’s not like you see in the movies.
• Drowning can happen in less than 1 minute.

HELPFUL DISCUSSION POINTS

Give the Skipper some peace of mind. Make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket, right-sized for them.

You wear a life jacket for the same reason you wear your seat belt in a car – because you cannot predict the unpredictable: a log is hidden below the surface of the water, a reckless boater, a rogue wave or wake. You cannot control how you will get thrown out of your boat, and if you’re knocked unconscious, then what? 

The U.S. Coast Guard labels life jackets according to the boating activity for their intended use. See the five types listed below.

Not only does the jacket need to be serviceable, but it’s extremely important to wear the right U.S. Coast Guard-approved jacket for the job. The life jacket label states the impact speed rating. You don’t want to be wearing a jacket that’s rated for canoeing when you’re water skiing; it hasn’t been tested to stay on the user when impacting the water at high speed. That can be tragic.

Life jackets are meant to keep your head above water and be visible to rescuers. For example, offshore jackets are large, can lift in excess of 22 pounds, and are designed to roll an unconscious person face-up. While near- and in-shore life jackets are designed for calmer waters and are not capable of rolling the wearer face-up.

We cannot stress the importance of wearing the right life jacket at all times enough. Make sure you check each jacket’s buckles, straps, and seams before every day on the water so you can live to tell about it.

Five Types of Life Jackets

Off-Shore Life Jackets

Best for the open ocean, rough seas, or remote water, where rescue may be slowly coming. They are designed to lift in excess of 22 lbs and are designed to roll an unconscious person face up.

Near-Shore Buoyant Vests

For general boating activities. Good for calm inland waters, or where there is a good chance for fast rescue.

Flotation Aids

For general boating or specialized activity such as water skiing, hunting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and others.

Throwable Device

Designed to be thrown to a person overboard or to supplement the buoyancy of a person overboard. It is not to be worn.

Special Use

Only for special uses or conditions such as canoe/kayak vest, boardsailing vest, deck suit, etc.

Just boating for the weekend with the family? BoatUS has a Life Jacket Loaner Program for kids so parents can get the right life jacket for the day or weekend. To find a loaner site check out their convenient locator map.

You can find several resources on proper fit and care from the Wear It campaign, a program of the National Safe Boating Council.

Boating is serious fun. We’ve provided a variety of advocate tools and outreach methods, choose what works best for you and your community.

• Visit spread the word for easy outreach through personal social media outlets and boating forums.
• Provide year-round education on all boating safety topics – download pamphlets, flyers, banners, and posters. Great event materials. Search by topic in the resource section.
• Download our marketing playbook, an advocate’s dream resource for creating change. Find it under the Boat Live 365 topic in our resource section.
• Don’t know where to start?  Contact us. We’re happy to help.

*U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Statistics, 2021