Life Jackets Float. You don't! Wear It! We do!
All recreational boats must carry one wearable life jacket (Type I, II, III, or V) for each person on board. Any boat 16 ft. and longer (except canoes & kayaks) must also carry one throwable life jacket (Type IV).
Life jackets are #1 on USCG Safety Equipment List. The simple act of wearing a life jacket could have saved 4 out of 5 lives lost in boating accidents. So set a good example by wearing a life jacket, encouraging others to wear life jackets when underway & getting children into the habit of wearing life jackets. This simple practice could save your life or the life of a loved one!
When underway, store any extra life jackets in cockpit area so they can float free if boat should unexpectedly capsize or sink.
U.S. Coast Guard approved Type II, III & V special purpose Inflatable life jackets are available from many manufacturers. They are comfortable, practical, affordable and make boating in hot/humid weather more enjoyable, but they require some TLC & knowledge of how they work to ensure they are in good operating condition & will effectively serve their intended purpose.
Maryland Law requires that:
- Children under 4 years of age must wear a life jacket with:
- STRAP that is secured between the legs to fasten together the front & back of the life jacket
- INFLATABLE HEADREST or HIGH COLLAR to keep child's head above water
- WEB HANDLE to ensure readily accessibility of the child from a vessel or dock
- Children under 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway on a recreational vessel under 21 ft. unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
See: "Boating in Maryland" for additional information & resources.
The vessel owner / operator are legally responsible for the safety & well-being of crew & passengers, so be sure to regularly review vessel safety gear requirements, condition & needs plus make it a habit to use a pre-underway checklist before every outting.
When was the last time you had a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) or did an in-depth review of your safety related equipment? Some items to consider include:
- Are Inflatable life jacket being appropriately serviced & maintained?
- Has a life jacket been crushed (used as a fender or cushion) or ripped making it ineffective?
- Is the watercraft being used differently or have on-the-water activities changed?
- Has the family grown in number and/or physical size?
- Does an individual with special needs come along?
- Does a family dog or cat come along?
- Are family members inviting relatives or friends to come along?
- Has a life jacket been lost, thrown away or damaged by mildew or solvents?
- Are life jackets stored in a place that may not be easily accessible during an emergency?
The USCG Seal of Approval allow you to focus efforts on finding devices that:
- will be worn (individual views as cool or likes the look)
- are comfortable & fit properly (check and select proper size)
- match type of activity & expected operating conditions (location/weather)
- will keep individual afloat & protected until help can arrive, if needed!