Life Jackets, Life Vests & Lifepreservers

The lifejacket is the most important piece of safety equipment on any vessel and must be in a good condition and accessible. Lifejackets are very important safety devices and should not be left lying about, where they could be used as cushions or pillows, etc. Life jackets are the vital boating accessories to carry even if you are not traveling far. Life jackets are a necessity in open water situations and are still the best way to guarantee your safety on the water. They are also changing to reflect the latest styles and safety trends.

Lifejackets, especially automatic types, come in a wide range of colours, specifications and different classifications. Lifejackets can provide either 100 or 150 Newtons of buoyancy, your choice of lifejacket should be based on what kind of seas or conditions you intend to travel in. Lifejackets fabric has a number of protective coatings and these will be damaged by proprietary cleaning fluids, thinners, spirits or similar substances if they come into contact with the lifejacket. Lifejackets need to be stored in suitable dry conditions to prevent damage occurring. Lifejackets serve to keep your head above water, preventing you from drowning, not to help you swim. Lifejackets are essential for children, adults with poor swimming skills and for all boating activities.

You should look for the following safety features in your child's life vest before you buy it: A large collar for head support, waist ties/gathers in front and back, a safety strap that goes between the legs to prevent the device from slipping over your child's head, buckles on safety straps and reflective tape. As with all safety and emergency equipment, servicing is most important. There are products available for the personal safety of very small infants or babies that are available in the form of floating cots or smaller lifejackets adapted for infants. Most lifejackets are now fitted with additional items for rescue such as personal rescue light; strobe light; EPIRB; sea-marker dye; heliograph; mini flare kit; crutch strap and integrated yachtsman safety harness.

Children will often panic when they fall in the water and a life jacket may not keep a struggling child face-up. So additionally, unlike adults' lifejackets, many children's lifejackets are also available with a built in safety harness with a 'D' ring attachment at the rear of the jacket. This is particularly suitable for younger children as theycan be attached to a suitable adult either on board, or at the water's edge. Children's lifejackets are supplied with a whistle to attract attention, and crotch straps as standard that must be worn at all times to prevent the jacket slipping off in the water or during rescue. Foam life jackets are permanently buoyant and are ideal for children but inflatable life jackets are not approved for children less than 16 years of age.

To check the correct fit of the lifejacket, pick the child up by the shoulders of the life jacket. If it fits, the child's chin and ears will not slip through. Also check the life jacket's label to ensure it matches your child's weight. It is also very important to teach your child how to wear and relax in a life jacket in the water. All children's lifejackets state a maximum weight and chest size which must not be exceeded. It is equally important not to purchase a jacket which is too large as this may result in the child slipping out of the jacket or the jacket may float too high in the water and becoming top heavy this will leave the child's mouth and nose submerged.

The life jacket is the most important item you will wear when on open water, hopefully you will never need to use it. However if you do you must make sure you are familiar with its operation and how to correctly wear it. You must also look after it and make sure it does not get damaged and is regularly serviced, as you never know when you are going to need it.