Top Tips for Boating Safety

Underwriters Laboratories recommends boaters keep the following tips in mind while planning boating activities:

• Ensure you have at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved/UL-Listed personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board.
• Read the lifejacket's label to make sure the device is appropriate for the individual's height and weight.
• Inspect PFDs for rips, holes and tears, making sure straps and hardware are in place and secure.
• Check the PFD's buoyancy in shallow water before venturing far from shore. Relax your body and let your head tilt back. The PFD should keep your chin above water and allow you to breathe easily.
• Check the fit on children before purchasing by gently pulling up on the PFD's shoulders. A properly fitted the lifejacket should keep a child's chin and ears from slipping through the neck holes.
• Purchase more than one kind of PFD if you use your boat for more than one purpose, such as a cruise on a calm lake one day, and a deep-sea fishing trip.
• Do not use inflatable toys as a substitute for a PFD. Remember that these toys, rafts, ski jackets or belts and other devices are not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard or UL as flotation devices.
• Store PFDs properly:
• Do not expose them to the sun for long periods or dry on a radiator or heater because sunlight and heat can weaken some synthetic fabrics and degrade the buoyancy material.
• Do not store PFDs in the boat where they can become wet and mildewed.
• Check the PFD every year before boating season begin for damage caused by storage or storms.
• Make sure you stand out in a crowd. Your PFD should make you highly visible in the water. Orange may not be your color, but it's the easiest one for rescuers to spot.
• Try on and test your PFD before using in the water.