{"id":75,"date":"2015-02-12T00:52:12","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T05:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/?post_type=article&#038;p=75"},"modified":"2020-04-02T17:00:47","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T17:00:47","slug":"life-jackets-pfds","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Jackets &amp; PFDs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>An important part of <a title=\"Boating Equipment &amp; Gear\" href=\"\/article\/boating-equipment-gear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Personal Safety Equipment<\/a> are boater\u2019s life jackets or PFDs. Let\u2019s take a closer look at what you need to know about one of the most important pieces of safety equipment a boater can own.<\/p>\n<h2>Life Jackets<\/h2>\n<p>Life jackets can be found in both \u2018Standard\u2019 and \u2018Small Vessel\u2019 styles and are available in both youth and adult sizes. They are red, orange or yellow in colour, feature a \u2018keyhole\u2019 or \u2018vest\u2019 design and are typically bulkier and more uncomfortable than PFDs. Manufactured with increased flotation in the front of the jacket,\u00a0life jackets are designed to turn an unconscious person face up\u00a0in the water. There are a few different types of life jackets:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea)<\/strong><strong>\u00a0Life jackets: <\/strong>These offer the best performance and will\u00a0turn an unconscious person face up and out of the water\u00a0in seconds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Standard Life jackets<\/strong>: These\u00a0feature a high degree of buoyancy and\u00a0will turn an unconscious person face up and out of the water\u00a0but are typically uncomfortable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Small Vessel Life jackets: <\/strong>These<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>are also\u00a0designed to turn an unconscious person face up,\u00a0but are not as buoyant and have less turning ability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Life-Jacket-Types.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-143 size-large\" data-original=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Life-Jacket-Types-1024x500.jpg\" alt=\"Lifejacket and Personal Flotation Device Types\" width=\"1024\" height=\"500\" data-original-set=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Life-Jacket-Types.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Life-Jacket-Types-300x146.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5\">Life jackets should fit\u00a0slightly\u00a0loose in order to allow water under the front of the jacket so that it can function properly. All zippers, fasteners, buckles and straps should be adjusted to ensure a proper fit. Although you can choose between life jackets and PFDs, life jackets offer a higher level of protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"M2 L19 Lifejackets\" width=\"699\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zs43T92qCHQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Personal Flotation Devices<\/h2>\n<p>Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are more comfortable and less restrictive than life jackets.\u00a0PFDs are designed to keep a person afloat but are NOT designed to turn an unconscious person face up\u00a0in the water.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"M 2 Personal Flotation Devices\" width=\"699\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MqoGuzKhgAM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>PFDs come in keyhole, vest, coat and coverall designs. Child, youth and adult sizes are available and should be fitted to the size of the person wearing the device. PFDs should fit snugly but not restrict the free movement of arms and legs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Inflatable PFDs: <\/strong>Inflatable PFDs have a carbon dioxide cartridge that is used to inflate the PFD. Once inflated, the PFD is able to keep the person afloat. They are very comfortable and compact to wear and come in various styles including waist pouches, vests and those that automatically inflate, versus more basic styles that require manual inflation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong style=\"line-height: 1.5\">The rules for inflatable PFDs:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Only\u00a0approved for use by persons 16 years or older that weigh more than 36 kilograms<\/li>\n<li>Must be\u00a0worn at all times while on\u00a0deck\u00a0or in the\u00a0cockpit\u00a0of an open boat<\/li>\n<li>Must be\u00a0readily available to persons below deck\u00a0on boats equipped with cabins<\/li>\n<li>Not approved for use on personal watercrafts or during\u00a0white water activities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Image3Inflatible.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-112 size-large\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Image3Inflatible-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Inflatable Personal Flotation Device\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Image3Inflatible-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Image3Inflatible-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Image3Inflatible.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How to Choose a Life Jacket or PFD<\/h2>\n<p>When choosing a life jacket or PFD, you should consider the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check the label or stamp to confirm the flotation device is Canadian-approved<\/li>\n<li>Choose one that suits the type of boating activities you will be doing. Will you be wakeboarding? Operating a PWC? Fishing?<\/li>\n<li>Verify that the life jacket or PFD is appropriate for your size and weight (if a boater falls overboard when wearing a PFD that is too small,\u00a0it may not support the weight of that person)<\/li>\n<li>Check that it fits snugly but allows for freedom of movement<\/li>\n<li>If purchasing a life jacket or PFD for another person, ensure that it will fit that person<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Safe Boating Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0If you are in a smaller, open boat (such as a small fishing boat), other boaters may find it difficult to see you. Choosing a brightly-coloured flotation device will help to make you more visible to others.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"M2 L23 Making the Right Choice\" width=\"699\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XOeg7LRer0g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Choosing a Life Jacket or PFD for a Child<\/h2>\n<p>Many life jackets, although certified for use, may not properly protect a child. Choose a life jacket or PFD that has been specifically designed for use by children to ensure their safety.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"M 2 Childrens LJ and PFDs\" width=\"699\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/69SZwJYLl7Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>A children\u2019s life jacket or PFD should have the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A label or stamp indicating that it is Canadian-approved<\/li>\n<li>An extra large collar to support the child\u2019s head<\/li>\n<li>A safety strap that fastens between the legs to prevent the jacket from slipping over the child\u2019s head<\/li>\n<li>A grab strap located on the collar<\/li>\n<li>Reflective material and a safety whistle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Children should be encouraged to wear a life jacket or PFD at all times\u2013both on the boat and when they are near the water. Be sure that children understand how to properly fit and use their life jacket or PFD and never consider a flotation device to be a substitute for adult supervision.<\/p>\n<p>The life jacket or PFD should always properly fit the child. Never try to &#8216;<em>make do&#8217;<\/em>\u00a0with a flotation device and never purchase a larger size with the hope that the child will \u2018grow into it\u2019.<\/p>\n<h2>Testing Life Jackets and PFDs<\/h2>\n<p>Life jackets and PFDs should be\u00a0tested for buoyancy\u00a0at the start of each season and on a regular basis throughout the season. Even if they are new!<\/p>\n<p>How to test a flotation device:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Put on and properly fit the life jacket or PFD and wade into chest deep water.<\/li>\n<li>Bend your knees and float onto your back.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure the life jacket or PFD keeps your chin above the water and permits proper breathing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Children should also test their life jackets or PFDs to ensure proper fit and buoyancy. Have your child follow the same procedures in a controlled environment under parental supervision.<\/p>\n<h2>Maintaining your Life Jackets and PFDs<\/h2>\n<p>Life jackets and PFDs are designed to save lives. But in order for them to do their job, you have to take care of yours. It is each boater\u2019s responsibility to maintain and care for their flotation device on a regular basis. Here are a few tips:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Never use them as cushions, bumpers or\u00a0fenders, they may become damaged and less effective<\/li>\n<li>They should be<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>air-dried out of direct sunlight\u00a0and away from a direct heat source<\/li>\n<li>When not in use they should be stowed onboard your boat in a\u00a0dry, well-ventilated area<\/li>\n<li>Store them in an\u00a0easily accessible\u00a0location and never in the proximity of gasoline or chemicals<\/li>\n<li>Inspect your life jackets and PFDs regularly, if ripped or damaged, they should be replaced immediately<\/li>\n<li>Remember that inflatable PFDs require more technology, which means they\u00a0must be maintained more often\u00a0than other types of life jackets and PFDs (the owner\u2019s manual will provide all the additional information you need)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"M2 L Maintaining Your LJ\" width=\"699\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dxzsjWL9cik?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>When cleaning your life jacket or PFD, consider the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use\u00a0mild soap and water<\/li>\n<li>Rinse thoroughly<\/li>\n<li>Never dry-clean or use strong detergents, gasoline or chemicals\/solvents<\/li>\n<li>Air dry out of direct sunlight and away from direct heat sources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Putting on a Flotation Device in the Water<\/h2>\n<p>Although we highly recommend that you wear a life jacket or PFD at all times while onboard your boat, here are our tips on how to put a flotation device on in the water. Find a supervised area in which to practice the following procedure:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Spread the flotation device open with the inside facing up and out of the water and the neck facing towards you.<\/li>\n<li>Extend your arms through the arm openings.<\/li>\n<li>Lift your arms above your head, lie backwards and pull the flotation device around your upper body.<\/li>\n<li>Fasten the zippers, straps, buckles and\/or ties to ensure a snug fit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Putting-On-Flotation-Device.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-144\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Putting-On-Flotation-Device-1024x329.jpg\" alt=\"Putting-On-Flotation-Device\" width=\"1024\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Putting-On-Flotation-Device.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Putting-On-Flotation-Device-300x96.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Learn more about <a href=\"\/en\/newsletters\/pfdandlifejacket.cfm\">how life jackets and PFDs save lives<\/a> when they are worn.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to start boating? <a href=\"\/ca\/?utm_source=schortysocial&amp;utm_medium=knowledgebase&amp;utm_campaign=lifejacketspfds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Get your boating license today<\/a> and get on the water in just a few hours!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","article-category":[8],"article-tag":[212,33,91,163,165],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Boating Safety: Life Jackets, Safety Equipment &amp; PFDs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Life Jackets: All the details you&#039;ll need about one of the most important pieces of safety equipment a boater can own, life jackets and PFDs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Boating Safety: Life Jackets, Safety Equipment &amp; PFDs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Life Jackets: All the details you&#039;ll need about one of the most important pieces of safety equipment a boater can own, life jackets and PFDs.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BOATsmart! Knowledgebase\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-04-02T17:00:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Life-Jacket-Types-1024x500.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/\",\"name\":\"BOATsmart! Knowledgebase\",\"description\":\"Everything you need to know about boating safety\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/02\/Life-Jacket-Types-1024x500.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/\",\"name\":\"Boating Safety: Life Jackets, Safety Equipment & PFDs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2015-02-12T05:52:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-04-02T17:00:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"Life Jackets: All the details you'll need about one of the most important pieces of safety equipment a boater can own, life jackets and PFDs.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/life-jackets-pfds\/\"]}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/75"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/75\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1879,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/75\/revisions\/1879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-category?post=75"},{"taxonomy":"article-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-tag?post=75"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}