It’s North American Safe Boating Awareness Week! Have you checked your child’s life jacket lately? Is it time to replace it?
Or maybe it’s time to buy new PFDs (personal flotation devices) or lifejackets for the boat. Whatever the reason for new lifejackets, several factors must be considered to ensure you bring home the right safety vests for your crew.
Today, we talk about what to consider and how to buy children’s life jackets to keep them safe on or near the water this season. Safe children are more likely to enjoy boating with you!
Children’s Life Jackets Need the Right Features
What are the most important elements of lifejackets for kids? Here’s what they need:
- A label indicating that the lifejacket has been approved for use in Canada
- A large collar to support the child’s head
- A safety strap that fastens between the child’s legs to prevent the safety vest from slipping over their head
- A grab strap located on the collar of the lifejacket
- Reflective material (a brightly-coloured lifejacket will make your child more visible to other boaters on the water!)
- A safety whistle (you can attach it to your lifejacket for extra safety)
Which of these features is the most important? All of them! Don’t buy a lifejacket that has only some of these features.
Lifejackets need all of the lifesaving elements noted above to keep kids safe in the water.
Tips for Buying a Child’s Lifejacket
With the features you need in mind, follow the tips below to buy safe life jackets for your kids.
- Make sure you have the right type of safety vest for your child. There are infant, child, and youth sizes, and the right one depends on your child’s weight.
- Check the sizing while in the store. Have the kids try a few lifejackets on!
- Make sure your child is comfortable in their lifejacket. If they aren’t, they won’t want to wear it.
- Consider the activity that the lifejacket will be primarily used for (swimming, fishing, waterskiing, etc.) and buy lifejackets that are ideal for the activity.
- Never buy a size larger than is needed, hoping the child will “grow into it” because they will surely “fall out of it” if it’s too big.
- Never purchase an inflatable toy as a lifejacket replacement.
Again, keeping your kids safe is the priority! Never go the “cheap” route or choose lifejackets that don’t fit well just to save money.
How Should It Fit?
Every lifejacket must fit the person wearing it correctly. If it doesn’t fit, it won’t work like it should to help save the life of the person wearing it. So, as you consider the types and sizes you need to stock your crew with, think about your passengers’ various weight categories and the type of activities you and your family like to do when out on the water.
When buying a new children’s life jacket, you’ll need to make additional considerations. One of the most crucial things to avoid is buying a life jacket your child will need to “grow into” or intended to last for several seasons as they grow.
They need a life jacket that fits now.
Let us confirm something for you: buying a lifejacket that is a size too big so that it will last through a couple of seasons is a dangerous idea.
Saving money on lifejackets is simply not a risk worth taking. Make sure that your child always has a properly-fitted lifejacket and that the vest is in working condition. Be sure to follow BOATsmart!®’s list of helpful guidelines (coming up next) when selecting your child’s next lifejacket!
Test Lifejackets at the Start of Every Boating Season
Remember, all PFDs and lifejackets should be tested at the beginning of each boating season and regularly throughout the rest of the season.
Even new lifejackets should be tested in a controlled, supervised area. Have your child test their new lifejacket for buoyancy and fit. If their safety vest floats up around their ears, then the lifejacket is too big!
A good fit will be snug, but there should still be a little room for arm movement. Ask your child to take a deep breath. They should be able to do so without much restriction.
Ultimately, kids should feel safe but comfortable in their lifejackets. Buy them one that fits properly, and they will be more likely to wear it all the time!
Know When They Should Wear It
One of the most important things you can do to promote lifejacket safety in your household is to encourage kids to wear a properly-fitted children’s lifejacket at all times – not just when they are on a boat. Kids should also wear lifejackets when they are near the water or playing on the dock.
Accidents can happen anytime, and it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry when they happen.
Additionally, when younger kids are around the cottage, remember that they tend to panic in emergency situations. If they fall into the water, they could drown very easily if thrashing about without a lifejacket to keep them afloat and face-up.
Where Can You Find Lifejackets for Kids?
You can find lifejackets that meet safety requirements in plenty of places, either local or online. To simplify lifejacket shopping, check out the great line-up of infant, child, and youth-sized lifejackets available from Mustang Survival CTA! They have several options for you and your child to choose from, and you’ll be able to put your mind at ease.
Mustang Survival vests are endorsed by both the Canadian Red Cross and the United States Coast Guard.
Wear Life Jackets and Stay Safe on the Water
Wearing a life jacket is one of the best things you can do – and encourage – to keep everyone safe on the water this season. However, it’s not the only safety essential you should know when hitting the water.
Learn more about being a safe and responsible boater by taking a boater course through BOATsmart! and obtaining your boat license (or Pleasure Craft Operator Card). We make it easy to take care of these things in one spot through our website! Set a good example for your kids by taking a course and wearing your life jacket this season.
Originally published May 13, 2013. Content most recently reviewed and updated July 25, 2024.
