Wearable flotation aids called lifejackets can keep a person afloat in the water. These are essential pieces of gear that over the years helped save thousands of lives. Usually constructed of polyester and foam cubes, life jackets include reflective patches on the front and rear. They have vivid colors, such as orange or yellow, which make them visible from a distance.
How do they work?
Lifejackets operate under the buoyancy principle, which states that an object’s weight is equal to the amount of water it displaces. This suggests that the buoyant force produced by a person in the water is equal to the weight of the person. However, a Lifejacket is made of a lightweight material that is significantly lighter than the typical weight density of an adult human. As a result, a person wearing a Lifejacket float because the amount of weight that the water must displace to support them is substantially lower than it would be otherwise.
It’s crucial to wear a jacket that is comfortable, prevents impact injuries, and provides the utmost protection.
Tips To Properly Use a Life Jacket.
Life jackets are an essential component of water safety and can save lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that drowning accounted for 72% of boating fatalities in 2010, with 88% of victims not donning life jackets. Because they are designed to keep your head above water and assist with breathing, wearing a life jacket or personal floating device (PFD) while engaging in water activities dramatically increases your chances of survival. Even the best swimmer during a boating disaster runs the risk of drowning in choppy, chilly waters where loose or falling debris can render anyone unconscious. The next time you head out on the lake, remember this crucial safety advice
- Ensure that each person on your boat has a life jacket that is in good condition and has no tears or holes in it. Each time before usage, inspect the life jackets.
- While aboard a boat, life jackets must be always worn
- It’s critical to have the appropriate life jacket for the kind of vacation you’re taking. In comparison to traveling on calm inland waterways, navigating a boat in choppy waters is different. These classifications are used to classify life jackets: I, II, III, or V types. For information on the appropriate life jacket for your journey, consult the U.S. Coastguard website.
- Depending on the wearer’s height and weight, choose a life jacket that suits them adequately. You can slip through a life jacket if it is too large. Put it on, extend your hands over your head, and have someone pull up on the shoulders to test it. It is too huge if it extends past your chin. You might require one with a crotch strap for kids. A life jacket shouldn’t be too tiny or too tight. You won’t stay afloat if it is too little.
- Ensure that everyone, especially youngsters, understands how to correctly don and secure their life jackets.
- The proper buckle should be used to belt all straps, and any loose straps should be firmly tucked in.
- In shallow water, check the life jacket’s buoyancy. Check if you can comfortably breathe by letting your body relax and tilting your head back to see if it keeps your chin above water.
- Children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket that has been approved by the United States Coast Guard when on a boat. States could have additional specifications for kids. Here, the US Coast Guard provides some further details. In the water, a life jacket should be visible. A fantastic color choice is a bright orange, especially for kids.
- Life jackets are required by law to be worn while tubing and water skiing, among other activities. Before you leave, check the laws in your state.
- Water wings and inflatable toys are not recognized safety equipment and should not be used in place of life jackets in an emergency.
- Avoid cleaning your life jacket with abrasive detergents because doing so could degrade the fabric and reduce the life jacket’s usefulness.
- Make sure the life jacket is dry before storing it but avoid leaving it out in the sun for an extended period since heat can weaken the fabric and reduce its buoyancy. Its buoyancy will be reduced if you dry it with a radiator or in a dryer. To prevent mildew, keep it in a dry area with excellent ventilation.
Examine and Service your life jacket.
So many people simply purchase a life jacket, use it periodically, then toss it in a locker without giving it any thought.
A jacket’s longevity and capacity to perform as intended when you need it can both be significantly increased by taking a few easy actions. If it becomes wet, wipe any salt off with fresh water, hang it up, and store it only once it is completely dry.
Spend some time reading the instructions, opening it up to see what’s inside and how it works, making sure the gas bottle is securely screwed in, and making sure the service dates are still valid. It will typically need to be serviced every two years for recreational boating, but in the interim, I’d advise opening it, manually inflating it (ideally with a pump to eliminate moisture from your breath) and making sure it stays inflated for 24 hours before repacking it.
Conclusion
For you to enjoy your boat and the water, we hope that these life jacket safety instructions will assist to keep you and your loved ones safe. It is also advised that everyone who works on small boats or other vessels always wear a twin-chamber life jacket, as well as anyone who must travel in a vessel of any kind, such as a passenger on a pilot boat to board ships at anchor. Wherever there is a chance of poor visibility, you should wear a safety light along with your life jacket, this will prevent you from any impending danger.