Lifejackets for Children: Facts to Know
Remember: Lifejackets only work when they are worn -- they do not take the place of supervision!
What is a Lifejacket?
A lifejacket is a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) that helps you or your child float and stay warm in the water.
Why Should Your Child Wear a Lifejacket?
Drowning is often silent, takes as little as five minutes and usually happens when an adult is nearby. No one can watch a child every second.
Which Children Should Wear a Lifejacket and When?
- Children between birth and five years: on beaches, docks and in boats.
- Children between the ages of 6-11: on docks, boats, inner tubes and river banks.
- Teens and adults: on boats or inner tubes.
Buying a Lifejacket
Buy your child a lifejacket -- there may not be one that fits to rent or borrow.
There are different types of lifejackets, Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, and Type V. The types most helpful for near-shore recreational boating are Type II and Type III.
Type II is good for calm, inland water where there is a good chance of fast rescue. Smaller-sized Type II lifejackets often have high collars to help keep a child's face out of the water.
Type III lifejackets provide similar flotation to Type II and offer the most comfort and freedom of movement. They comes in a variety of styles and sizes, from small child through adult. They also are best used in calm water where there's a good chance of fast rescue.
Type I is for boating in severe conditions where rescue may be delayed, and Type IV is a boat cushion or rescue ring. It does not replace a wearable lifejacket and should not be used by children. Type V lifejackets are designed to be worn for specific uses. Make sure that the uses listed on Type V lifejackets fit the activity in which your child will be involved.
When buying a lifejacket, check for:
- Coast Guard approved label: Some children's swim suits have flotation sewn into them and are not approved as lifejackets. New products are being developed all the time, and lifejackets that are worn like a swim suit are available for children. Just be sure that they are labeled as U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets (usually Type V but classified as a Type III when worn underway).
- A snug fit. Check weight and size on the label and try the lifejacket on your child. Pick up your child by the shoulders of the lifejacket; the child's chin and ears won't slip through a proper fit.
- Head support for younger children. A well-designed lifejacket will support the child's head when the child is in the water.
- A strap between the legs on vest-style lifejackets. This is a good feature because it helps prevent the vest from coming off.
- Comfort and appearance. This is especially important for teens, who are less likely to wear a lifejacket.
How Do You Use a Lifejacket?
Every time you prepare for an outing, check the lifejacket for fit as well as wear and tear. Throw it away if you find air leakage, mildew, rot or rust.
If a child panics in the water and thrashes about, he may turn onto his face, even though a lifejacket with a collar is designed to keep him on his back with face out of the water. Have your child practice wearing a lifejacketin the water -- this will help prevent panic and rolling over.
Never alter a lifejacket It could lose its effectiveness.
Wear your own lifejacket to set an example, and to help your child if an emergency occurs.
Never use toys like plastic rings or water wings in place of a lifejacket. |