How to Wear a Life Jacket

"Boat Smart from the Start - Wear Your Life Jacket" is the motto of the National Safe Boating Council, and it's good advice. Having a life jacket on while you are boating could very well save your life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Boating Safety Guides
• Instructions For Wearing
• U.S. Coast Guard-approved Life Jackets

1. Choose U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, if you own your own boat. (See "How to Choose a Life Jacket" in Related eHows, left.)
2. Make sure life jackets are readily accessible, whether you are on your own boat or someone else's. They should not be locked away or stored in hard-to-reach places.
3. Check the fit, which is the most important factor in the life jacket's effectiveness. Weight and size information for the wearer should appear on the jacket's label. Also, have someone pull up on the shoulders of a life jacket that is on to make sure it fits snugly; your chin, head and neck should not slip through.
4. Choose a life jacket that is a bright color so that you can be easily spotted should you fall into the water.
5. Put your life jacket on before you shove off. If you fall in the water without one, it will be virtually impossible to get it on while you are trying to float or swim.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are on a boat that does not belong to you, insist on a jacket that fits you appropriately. Put it on correctly according to the label's instructions.
• Although you may wish to equip your boat with throwable flotation devices in addition to life jackets, don't rely on these in place of life jackets.
• Know your state's laws regarding the wearing of life jackets when boating.
• Never allow a child on a boat without a life jacket.
• Do not wear a life jacket that is ripped, has holes or has hardware that doesn't work properly.