Life Jackets
Personal floatation devices
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in North America, and it most often occurs when a child isn’t wearing a life jacket. When a bad storm hits, flooding can cause even strong adult swimmers to drown from sheer exhaustion. If you’re putting together hurricane kits in readiness for the upcoming hurricane season, a lifejacket (or life vest) is an essential item.
A life jacket is made of a floatable material, either foam or air, encased in a waterproof lining and fastened by straps or buckles around the body. It’s designed to hold your upper body upright and out of water. Life jackets are often referred to as PFDs, or personal floatation devices. They are brightly colored, normally orange, yellow or red, so that they can be seen from the air or from a boat easily in dark water.
Foam core life jackets are the best and most common jacket on the market; they do not leak and stand up to strong elements. However, they are made for swimmers who can keep themselves upright in the water – if you have a family member who cannot swim, you may want to consider buying a self-righting inflatable air chamber, which will keep the wearer face-up in the water.
When choosing a life jacket, ensure that it fits snugly around your body and isn’t too tight or too loose. A poorly-fitting life jacket can be deadly in rough water. If you have little storage space, consider getting an inflatable life jacket that can be folded and inflated by pulling a string. These are not suitable for children, however. A child life jacket should fit a child snugly and should fasten between the legs and around the waist – children can slip out of an airplane-style life vest. Ensure that your child’s life jacket has a wide collar at the neck to keep him or her supported and upright in the water.
If you have a dog, you’ll also want to consider buying a dog life jacket. This will save your dog’s life in the event of a flood or a prolonged swimming session. While animals can swim quite well, a life vest will ensure that they do not drown from sheer exhaustion in an emergency situation.
Life jackets are extremely important when on the water and when preparing for severe floods. Sometimes, they’re the difference between drowning and surviving, so ensure every member of your family has a correct-fitting life jacket and knows how to use it.
Why Are Life Jackets Essential for Flood Survival?
- Life jackets ensure that you stay upright in the water and don’t drown.
- They can keep you floating for a long time, allowing you to conserve your energy and strength.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Life Jacket
- What type of jacket do you need?
- Will you want insulation for colder water?
- Do you have children or weak family members who cannot swim?
Top Life Jacket Brands
- Stearns life jackets
- Coleman life jackets
- Buoy O’Buoy life jackets
