Life Jackets UK

Buy a Life jacket - and wear it

Pick a life jacket that fits, and fits the type of boating you will be doing. There are many that are comfortable and attractive, which means you are much more likely to be wearing it if an emergency arises. Never alter your PFD. Give it a trial test in shallow water. Does it hold you up so that you can breathe easily?

Some foam vests have wide panels and some narrow, but this doesn't matter. Fit does, though. A good vest will be comfortable enough to wear all day. It will adjust, so that you can wear it over either a t-shirt or a wetsuit. And it will stay put when you're in the water. It will also make it easy for you to float on your back with your face up and your legs extended.

Inflatable Life Jackets

Are They Right For You?

Inflatable life jackets are nothing new, but are finally gaining wider acceptance as more agencies recognize that their comfort or wearability could translate to increased life jacket use by the public. While inflatable life jackets are often cooler and less bulky than traditional life jackets, they are not the life jacket of choice for all boating situations. Inflatable life jackets are:-

Sized for persons 17 years and older weighing more than 80 pounds
Not recommended for weak or non-swimmers
Not for water sports like skiing or whitewater boating
Not for use with personal watercraft
Not for children younger than 16 years of age

Some have an oral-tube-valve allowing the survivor to balance the life jacket perfectly.

While all life jackets should be inspected from time to time to ensure they are in serviceable condition, inflatable devices should be looked over regularly to make sure the mechanism is working properly. Use the following checklist as a guide for evaluating inflatable life jackets: Don't wear a life jacket that has torn or broken buckles. Don't wear a life jacket that has rips, unattached webbing, or missing straps. Don't keep life jackets with rotting material or parts showing excessive wear. Do check the inflatable lanyard to see that it hangs freely from the inflatable life jacket. Do make sure all inflatable life jackets have a properly armed inflatable mechanism.

Life Jacket Colour

Orange is a great color for life jackets because it is a very bright color that you rarely find in nature. If you are trying to rescue someone who has fallen overboard, you need to be able to see them. If they are wearing a bright orange life jacket you will be better able to see them than if their life jacket were blue or green.

Does the life jacket fit?

Use the arms up to check if a life jacket fits. With the jacket on, raise your arms high. If when looking to the left, right and over the shoulder, the chest part of the jacket doesn't hit the chin, the device probably fits. A good test for children is to have a child stand normally, arms at sides. Grab the life jacket at the shoulders and firmly lift up. If you can move the life jacket more than three inches up and down the child's body, it doesn't fit. A life jacket that doesn't fit could endanger the wearer as much as not wearing one.

Buoyancy level of a life jacket

Many manufacturers produce life jackets with up to 62 lbs. or 28kg. of buoyancy.

In the UK, check that the supplier sells BSI approved life jackets.

Is it suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers.

Is it needed for offshore and severe conditions, when maximum protection is required or where heavy waterproof clothing is to be worn.

Air only and air/foam life jackets, both automatic and manual, are the norm for offshore sailing and cruising.

Maybe you only need a life jacket for relatively calm waters, maybe dinghy sailing on a small lake, Buoyancy aids, not life jackets are generally used for dinghy sailing.

Additional points

There are life jackets that have an additional distress light providing better locating of survivors at night.

Do you prefer a side fastening or front?

Gas inflatable bladder or oral inflation?

Buoyant clothing is a dual-purpose garment and buoyancy aid.

Children's Life jackets

Life jackets for youngsters

If your family enjoys boating, sailing, and canoeing on lakes, rivers, and streams, be sure your children wear the correct life jackets. If you do, they will be able to take part in these activities more safely. Many children and adolescents think life jackets and life preservers are hot, bulky, and ugly. This is no longer necessarily true. Newer models look better, feel better, and provide increased protection.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THESE TIPS

Your children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water.

Teach your child how to put on his or her own life jacket.

Make sure your child is comfortable wearing a life jacket and knows how to use it.

Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted.

Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts, and air mattresses should never be used as life jackets or life preservers. They are not safe.

Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection and to set a good example.

Life jackets for Pets

With all this talk about you, your family and friends, we must not forget your pet dog or cat. Buy a life jacket for them as well, so you are all safe.

Finally

No matter what the type of life jacket, the most significant fact about life jackets is that they save lives. It is important for recreational boaters to take the time to choose a life jacket that they will wear, that meets the need of the activity they are participating in, and that will work for the environment to which they are exposed.

Throwable Device

These are designed to be thrown to a person in the water. Throwable devices include boat cushions, ring buoys, and horseshoe buoys. They are not designed to be worn and must be supplemented by a wearable life jacket. It is important to keep these devices immediately available for emergencies.