Understanding Life Jackets and PFDs

Introduction

Life jackets are important safety equipment that should be worn at all times while on a boat. A life jacket is designed to keep you afloat in case of an emergency and should never be used as a substitute for wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). If you plan to use your boat in any type of water, it is recommended that everyone on board wear some sort of PFD.

PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) come in many forms and you should have more than one on board.

Wear only one PFD at a time.
Make sure your life jacket fits properly and is the right type for your activity.
Wear it snugly and close to your body with the straps adjusted correctly around your shoulders, chest, waist and thighs.
Make sure you are wearing a U.S.-approved PFD that is in good condition, not expired or damaged in any way (including missing hardware).

Inflatable PFDs are light-weight and can be worn over a shirt or jacket.

Inflatable PFDs are easy to wear and can be worn over a shirt or jacket. They are also light-weight, which makes them perfect for children, adults, and pets.

Foam life jackets are designed to be bulky and turn an unconscious person face up in the water.

Foam life jackets are designed to be bulky, and they are not designed to be lightweight. They are also not designed to be comfortable. However, they do offer better protection than traditional life jackets because they’re made of foam that expands when it gets wet—which means you’re less likely to drown because your clothes will keep you afloat longer than with a traditional PFD.

All in all, foam PFDs aren’t the most comfortable (or most fun) option for swimming or snorkeling, but if you want something that’s more effective at keeping your head above water in rough seas or choppy waves, this is definitely your best bet!

Life jackets can be categorized into five different types.

Type I, Type II and Type III life jackets are appropriate for calm water use and are the most common type that you will see on recreational boats. The main difference between the three is their buoyancy:

Type I – Your average everyday vest that provides moderate flotation in calm water. It’s an excellent choice for day-boating or fishing in protected areas where there aren’t any waves. They’re also good as a backup life jacket if you have one of the higher rated ones with more advanced features (like cut resistant straps).

Type II – This is a slightly more advanced version of the Type I jacket with better coverage around your neck, shoulders and chest area making it ideal for those who spend time on larger vessels or sailboats where there might be some motion from wind or water current pushing against them when underway.

Type III – The most robust type available for recreational boaters because it has high buoyancy—enough so that it supports your head even when you’re floating face down! They’re designed for rough seas with stronger winds than found off shore but also work well during high speed activities like skiing or tubing since they cover all areas important to keeping you afloat even under stressful conditions like being tumbled around by waves (or people).

Type I and Type II life jackets are good for calm, inland waters, or for boaters who are good swimmers.

If you’re a good swimmer, or if you’ll be out on calm water only, a Type II life jacket may be the right choice for you.

Type I and Type II PFDs are designed to keep you afloat in an upright position. They’re best suited for inland waters—or for boaters who are good swimmers.

Type III life jackets are good for the typical boater or for inland waters where there may be rough surf, such as the Great Lakes.

Type III life jackets are good for the typical boater or for inland waters where there may be rough surf, such as the Great Lakes. Type III life jackets are designed to provide more buoyancy than the other types of life jackets. They have a pocket on the front so they can be worn with a PFD over it and they also have an inflatable collar that helps keep your head above water even if you are unconscious.

Type IV life jackets include buoyant cushions, ring buoys and horseshoe buoys and are only used in emergencies and should not be used in lieu of a wearable PFD.

These are not wearable. They are designed to be used after a person is unconscious.
They should not be used in lieu of a wearable PFD for children or people who cannot swim as they do not offer support and will not keep you afloat if dropped in the water.

Type V life jackets are special purpose devices designed for specific activities such as water skiing, whitewater rafting, etc.

Type V life jackets are special purpose devices designed for specific activities such as water skiing, whitewater rafting, etc. They are not designed for general boating or to be worn in lieu of a wearable PFD. Type V pfd’s should only be used by trained individuals and only when the activity requires use of a type V life jacket.

It is important that everyone on board know how to use a life jacket properly and that it fits properly.

To ensure the proper fit, follow these steps:

Sit down in the life jacket with your arms at your sides and make sure it’s comfortable. If you don’t feel like you can breathe comfortably, loosen all the straps until you feel more relaxed.
Take note of whether or not there are any areas that pinch, rub or chafe against your skin. This may be caused by an improper size or incorrect adjustment of straps and webbing. Make adjustments accordingly so that you don’t experience any discomfort while wearing the vest for long periods of time (which could potentially lead to distraction).

Conclusion

It is important that everyone on board know how to use a life jacket properly and that it fits properly. It’s also vital to have more than one type of device in order to account for all types of emergencies. The last thing you want is for someone who has been knocked overboard by a rogue wave to drown because they didn’t have time to find their PFD before going under water!