It’s North American Safe Boating Awareness Week! Have you Checked your Child’s Life Jacket? Is it Time to Replace it?
Is it time to buy new PFDs or lifejackets for the boat? There are several factors you need to take into consideration to make sure you are bringing home the right safety vests for your crew! You have to think about your passenger’s various weight categories and the type of activities you and your family like to do when out on the water. However, when buying a new children’s lifejacket, there are additional considerations you should be making.
One of the most important things you can do to promote lifejacket safety in your household is to encourage kids to wear a properly-fitted children’s lifejacket at all times–not just when they are on a boat but also when they are near the water or playing on the dock. Accidents can happen at any time and it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry when they do.
Additionally, when younger kids are around the cottage, remember that they tend to panic in emergency situations and if they fell in the water, they could drown very easily if thrashing about without a lifejacket to keep them afloat and face-up.
Let us confirm something for you: buying a lifejacket that is a size too big so that it will last through a couple of seasons is a dangerous idea. Saving money on lifejackets is simply not a risk worth taking–make sure that your child always has a properly-fitted lifejacket, the vest is in working condition and be sure to follow BOATsmart!®’s list of helpful guidelines when selecting your child’s next lifejacket!
Children’s Lifejackets Should Have the Following Features:
- A label indicating that the lifejacket has been approved for use in Canada
- A large collar to support the child’s head
- A safety strap that fastens between the child’s legs to prevent the safety vest from slipping over their head
- A grab strap located on the collar of the lifejacket
- Reflective material (a brightly-coloured lifejacket will make your child more visible to other boaters on the water!)
- A safety whistle (you can attach it to your lifejacket for extra safety)
Tips for buying a child’s lifejacket:
- Make sure you have the right type of safety vest for your child: there are infant, child and youth sizes you will have to choose from (the right one depends on your child’s weight)
- Check the sizing while in the store–have the kids try a few lifejackets on!
- Make sure the child is comfortable in their lifejacket–if they aren’t , they won’t want to wear it
- Consider the activity that the lifejacket will be primarily used for: Swimming? Fishing? Waterskiing?
- NEVER buy a size larger than is needed hoping the child will ‘grow into it ’because they will surely ‘fall out of it’
- NEVER purchase an inflatable toy as a lifejacket replacement
Remember, all lifejackets should be tested at the beginning of each boating season and regularly throughout the rest of the season. Even new lifejackets should be tested–in a controlled, supervised area have your child test their new lifejacket for buoyancy and for fit. If their safety vest floats up around their ears, then the lifejacket is too big! A good fit will be snug but there should still be a little room for arm movement. Ask your child to take a deep breath–they should be able to do so without much restriction. Ultimately, kids should feel safe but comfortable in their lifejackets. Buy them one that fits properly and they will be more likely to wear it all the time!
To make lifejacket shopping a little easier, check out the great line-up of infant, child and youth-sized lifejackets that are available from Mustang Survival CTA! They have several options for you and your child to choose from and you’ll be able to put your mind at ease–Mustang Survival vests are endorsed by both the Canadian Red Cross and the United States Coast Guard.
Learn more about being a safe and responsible boater by obtaining your Boat License and completing the Canadian Safe Boating Guide.
