Family Water Safety: How to Choose the Right Life Jackets

 Staying safe when boating or playing water sports is one of the most important things you need to do in order to prevent injuries and drowning. Although property damage is possible (when boating in particular), the truth is that nothing can compare to severe injuries and drowning. The easiest, best and fastest ways to protect yourself and your family from situations like this are by wearing a life jacket, but not any, but the right one.

Things to Look for in Life Jackets

When it comes to choosing a life jacket purchase models that can save your life and the lives of your family. Doing this is possible only by taking into account the most important things.

Type

The type of life jacket you purchase is closely related to choosing the adequate buoyancy. The latter refers to the amount of lift a life jacket provides to keep your weight above the water. In order to find the right life jacket purchase one that can support your weight and the specific water activity you plan to indulge in. Generally speaking, you can choose between inflatable models and models of level 50, 100 and 150, where the higher the number, the better the flotation support and turning capability.

Levels 50

Level 50 jackets have a buoyancy of 50 newtons (N), which means around 5kg of flotation. They are designed for good swimmers and waters where help and the shore are close by. These jackets are strong enough to keep you afloat, however, they certainly cannot turn automatically or turn an unconscious person on their back. They are mainly used for active water sports like wakeboarding, dinghy sailing, kayaking and jet skiing.

Level 100

Level 100 jackets have 100 N buoyancy, and they are designed for people who need to wait for a rescue in sheltered, enclosed, and calm waters. They provide more floating than the 50N models and can turn a conscious or unconscious person onto their back. These jackets are the perfect option for calm coastal sailing, inshore boating and situations where rescue can take longer than needed.

Level 150

The level 150 N life jackets are designed for rougher coastal waters, offshore cruising and general boating. They have high-performance buoyancy and can easily turn a conscious or unconscious wearer on their back despite their heavy and wet clothing.

Inflatable

These life jackets are light and sleek PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) designed to automatically expand in water. However, they can also expand when a cord is pulled. Given the fact that they can expand only when pulled or in water, this means that they are super thin, offering maximum comfort and mobility when worn. They are easy to use and ‘activate’ and can be worn in all recreational calm waters.

Certifications

When in the search for the right pieces of equipment of this kind, you should always look for ones that meet all the needed standards. In Australia, you should look for ones that must meet the AS 4758 standard. They should also feature a highly visible label indicating their specific buoyancy. This certification ensures the jackets are of quality and have undergone rigorous testing for reliability and performance.  

Fit

Just like clothes, life jackets should also fit well. Practice shows that a well-fitting life jacket can make all the difference in an emergency, which is why you should pay extra attention when in the serach for the right ones. When worn, they should feel snug but not restrict your movements. In case you choose looser or tighter models, this means that they won’t provide you with the needed safety because they’ll make you feel uncomfortable and will limit your mobility.  

In order to choose a good fit, it’s best for you to try them on, fasten all the straps and start moving your arms to test mobility. When you pull your arms upward by the shoulders, the jacket shouldn’t slip over your chin or ears. If some of these things aren’t right, you should try other jackets until you find the right ones.

Visibility

Visibility can be a lifesaver in rescue situations, so it’s of vital importance to choose life jackets in brighter colours like neon orange, yellow, or red. This will make it easy for rescuers to spot you in the water and help you. Sometimes in such situations, time is valuable, so you should follow all the protocols and rules in order to choose the right models for you and your family.

For added safety, you can also look for ones that have reflective strips because they are super useful in low-light conditions, as they reflect light from torches, head lamps or the sun.

Durability

The last but not least thing to consider is their durability. Quality and good models should withstand wear and tear, which is why you should look for ones made from high-quality materials like nylon or neoprene. The buckles, straps, and stitching should also be made from robust and durable materials in order to withstand wear and tear.