According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), "Nearly all boating-related fatalities are the result of drowning, and most of these fatalities could have been prevented if a life jacket had been worn."
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| Water rescue crews like this one searched for the missing Potomac boaters. |
VDGIF regulations require one wearable Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket for each person on the boat. The life jacket must be the appropriate size for each intended wearer.
* Each wearable life jacket must be "readily accessible," if not worn. Readily accessible means the life jackets are out in the open, ready for wear, or stowed where they easily can be reached. Readily accessible life jackets cannot be in protective coverings or under lock and key.
* In addition, you should check each life jacket for proper fit. This is especially important for children.
* A Type V life jacket needs to be worn, according to the manufacturer's label, to meet safety requirements.
* This requirement applies to all boats, including paddlecraft (canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards).
In addition to the wearable life jacket, there must be at lease one USCG-approved Type IV throwable ring buoy or seat cushion on vessels 16 feet or longer. The regulation to carry a Type IV does not apply to personal watercraft; non-motorized canoes and kayaks 16 feet or longer; racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes, and racing kayaks; sailboards; and vessels of the United States used by foreign competitors while practicing for or racing in competition.
* Each Type V throwable must be immediately available. "Immediately available" means the life jacket shall be quickly reachable in an emergency situation. An immediately available life jacket cannot be in a protective covering, in a closed compartment, or under other equipment. There is no requirement to have a line attached.
* Metal or plastic hardware used to secure the life jacket on the wearer that is broken, deformed or weakened by corrosion, or
* Webbings or straps used to secure the life jacket on the wearer that are ripped, torn or which have become separated from an attachment point on the life jacket, or
* Any other rotted or deteriorated structural component that fails when tugged, or
* Rips, tears, or open seams in fabric or coatings that are large enough to allow the loss of buoyant material, or
* Buoyant material that has become hardened, non-resilient, permanently compressed, waterlogged, oil-soaked, or which shows evidence of fungus or mildew, or
* Loss of buoyant material or buoyant material that is not securely held in position.
Inflatable life jackets must meet all the requirements for life jackets listed earlier, plus the following:
* A properly armed inflation mechanism, complete with a full inflation cartridge and all status indicators showing that the inflation mechanism is properly armed,
* Inflatable chambers that are all capable of holding air,
* Oral inflation tubes that are not blocked, detached or broken,
* Inflation-status indicators that are not broken or otherwise non-functional,
* The inflation system of an inflatable life jacket need not be armed when the life jacket is worn inflated and otherwise meets the earlier requirements.
Federal Life Jacket Rule for Children Under 13 Years Old--No person may operate a recreational vessel on federal waters with any child under age 13 on the vessel, unless each child is either:
* Wearing an appropriate life jacket approved by the Coast Guard, or
* Below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
In Virginia, this rule is enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard or other federal agents and applies on waters over which they have enforcement jurisdiction. Most waters in Virginia are considered federal waters.
A Special Note about Inflatable Life Jackets
Inflatable life jackets are lightweight, comfortable to wear, and take up about one-tenth the storage room of conventional foam-filled life jackets. Most are USCG-approved only for persons 16 years of age and older, who are not engaged in whitewater or skiing activities or riding on a PWC. They are a great choice for adults on the water.
Does Your Life Jacket Really Fit?
How do you know if a life jacket really fits you? First, check the label to make sure the life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved. Life jackets (or PFDs) come in a couple of basic sizes: infant, child and adult. Within those basic sizes, there will be a range (small, medium, large, etc.) of sizes. The label will indicate the sizes and the size range, which will include a weight range and usually also a chest-size range. After you check the label, make sure you move on to the second step: Try it on. Before every boating season, try on your life jacket. Make sure that it fits correctly. What does a correct fit mean? It should be snug but not tight. Lift your arms over your head; can you turn your head left, right and over your shoulder, or has the life jacket ridden up and in the way of moving your head? For a child, have them stand with their arms to their sides. Life the life jacket up by the shoulders. The life jacket should not move more than 3 inches, no higher than the child's ears. If the life jacket does move up more than 3 inches, it is too big, and the child can slip right out--get a smaller life jacket. A younger child's life jacket also should include a crotch strap--this will help ensure the life jacket stays on. Finally, practice using the life jacket in shallow water. Make sure it is snug enough to stay put and doesn't ride up over the chin and ears when in shallow water. Have children practice in shallow water with their life jacket so they don't panic in case of emergency.
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