20 Chapter One
ally, boats over 16 feet long must carry an
immediately accessible throwable floatation
aid (some human powered boats are
exempted). Most states mandate wearing
USCG-approved life jackets by water skiers,
tubers, personal water craft (PWC) operators
and riders, and when participating in
similar water activity involving high speeds.
This course will discuss many aspects
of boating safety, including always wearing
your life jacket. You, as the BOATING
DECISION MAKER must use common
sense while operating your boat safely. A
primary and critical boating decision
BEFORE leaving the dock is to wear life
jackets and brief ALL aboard to wear it
rather than just have it “readily accessible.”
Readily accessible means that if the
life jacket is not worn it may be put on in
a reasonable amount of time in an emergency.
This requirement is NOT met when
the life jackets are stowed in plastic bags,
in locked or closed compartments, or have
gear stowed on top of them.
Annual studies about recreational
boater fatalities consistently show marginal,
if any success for putting on a life jacket in
an emergency. Conditions such as weather
can change too quickly, overwhelming good
intentions to put on the life jacket. Even in
calm conditions it is almost impossible to
put one on when you are in the water since
life jackets have considerable buoyancy. AN
IMMEDIANT ACTION FOR ALL ABOARD
WHEN ENTERING RESTRICTED VISIBILITY,
ROUGH SEAS, OR IMMANENENT BOATING
ACCIDENT IS TO WEAR YOUR PROPERLY
SIZED AND FASTENED LIFE JACKET.
Selecting the Proper Life
Jacket—Boating Decision-
Making for Safe Boating!
Three classifi cations apply to the previous
and new labels:
• Life jackets—these devices provide face-up
fl otation with levels of support suffi cient
for various open and rough water uses. Life
jackets have a buoyancy distribution suffi
cient to turn most users, when tested on
Figure 2-2. Life jacket labeling standard revision.
More emphasis on icons; less text; standards
are based on activity; there is more focus
on consise, critical information.
users wearing swimming costumes according
to ISO 12402, to a position where the
mouth has a defined freeboard above
the water’s surface, even when the user is
unconscious.
• Buoyancy Aids—these devices should
be comfortable for continuous wear and
provide lift, without significant faceupturning
ability, to fl oat the conscious
user with a level of support marked on
4
5
6
7
7a 7b
Advisory:
Long-standing life
jacket labeling standards
are changing.
The U.S. Coast
Guard cancelled
performance terminology
“TYPE”
I through V on 22
October 2014. In
2018, manufacturers
began using new
U. S. Coast Guard
terminology. Performance
will be
stated as “levels” vice
“types.” Labels are
being standardized
with Canada for
cross border boating
operations. Life
jackets with Type
I through V labels
remain useable, provided
they are in serviceable
condition.