Pulling Forward Safely with Life Jackets Continued from cover

canoe after it flips over in the water. One of the most critical measures to ensure everyone is safe is wearing a life jacket. Like receiving a vaccine, wearing a life jacket is a simple yet lifesaving measure to prevent deaths.

No matter how great a swimmer you are, everyone needs a life jacket. But just like the pullers in your canoe, life jackets come in various shapes and sizes. US Coast Guard-approved life jackets are sized by weight. It is essential to ensure that everyone has an appropriately sized life jacket. For a proper fit, Water Safety USA suggests the following:

• Check the manufacturer’s ratings for your appropriate size and weight. There are many manufacturers and styles, so fit may differ.

• Choose a life jacket that fits properly.

• Life jackets that are too big will cause the flotation device to push up around your face, which could be dangerous.

• Life jackets that are too small may not be able to keep your body afloat.

• Make sure the life jacket is appropriately zipped and buckled.

• Check for fit by raising your arms above your head while wearing the life jacket, and ask a friend to grasp the tops of the arm openings and gently pull up. The life jacket should not ride up over your chin or face.

• Ensure your life jacket fits properly with no excess room above the arm and neck openings. A snug fit in these areas shows that the life jacket fits properly.

Whether your canoe family or Tribe purchases all the life jackets or you ask individual pullers to come with their life jacket, it is vital to help each other check size and fit of your life jacket before you get on the water. Hence, you know the life jacket can do what it intends to save lives!

There are only a few more weeks before we get on the water. As you prepare, you may also want to check out some great online resources that help you learn more about water safety and how to select a life jacket that fits you and your water activity needs.

How to Pick the right life jacket guide by the US Coast Guard https://www.uscgboating.org/images/howtochoosetherightlifejacket_brochure.pdf

Life Jackets Save Lives https://www.watersafetyusa.org/life-jackets-save-lives.html

Washington State Life Jacket Loaner Program https://www.parks.wa.gov/956/Life-Jacket-Loaner-Program

How to fit children with life jackets, Safe Kids, Worldwide https://www.safekids.org/blog/ask-expert-how-find-right-life-jacket

Have a safe journey. I’ll see you on shore!