The Basics
- A life jacket (also called a Personal Flotation Device, or PFD) is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment for any water activity.
- Drowning is silent. A child or adult in distress in the water often cannot call for help or wave their arms. A life jacket keeps them afloat while help arrives.
- In 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that 83% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket.
- Life jackets must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, the correct size for the wearer’s weight, and properly fastened to work.
- WEBSITE: U.S. Coast Guard: Life Jackets
- WEBSITE: National Safety Council: Life Jacket Safety
Action Items
- Purchase properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for every member of your family and require them to be worn during any boating, paddling, or open-water activity.
- Make life jacket wearing a non-negotiable rule — not something that can be skipped “just this once.” Children learn by consistency.
- Check that your life jacket fits correctly: the jacket should not be able to slip over the wearer’s chin or ears when lifted by the shoulders. Re-fit children every season as they grow.
- Store life jackets somewhere easily accessible, not buried in a storage compartment. In an emergency, every second counts.
- Visit a Life Jacket Loaner Station near you — many parks, marinas, and beaches offer free life jackets to borrow. Find one here.
- Read all of the Layers of Protection. The next layer: Supervise Around Water.
Dive Deeper
- There are five types of life jackets (Types I–V) each designed for different water conditions. Type I (offshore life jackets) provide the most buoyancy and are recommended for open, rough, or remote waters where rescue may be delayed.
- Inflatable life jackets offer more comfort but require regular maintenance and may not be appropriate for non-swimmers, children under 16, or situations where the wearer may be knocked unconscious.
- Research shows that life jacket loaner programs increase usage: when life jackets are free and available at the point of use, more people wear them. Advocating for more loaner stations in your community can save lives.
- GUIDE: American Red Cross: Life Jacket Guide (PDF)
- ORGANIZATION: National Safety Council: Life Jacket Loaner Program Directory