Life Jackets Save Lives...Wear one!

So with the long weekend on its way, the weather being hot and sunny and Safe Boating Week just around the corner, there is no better time to remind people that having the proper safety equipment on board your boat is the only way to go!

We all know that traditionally lifejackets and PFDs were bulky, unattractive, uncomfortable and frankly just plain annoying. The great news is that this is no longer the case! While "life jackets" remain more traditional (yes folks there really is a difference between life jackets and PFDs) to retain their ability to "right" an unconscious person, "personal floatation devices" (PFDs) have changed in look, feel and are far more user friendly. PFDs now come in a range of colours and styles to suit all types of on-water activities. 

This new aged PFD is a wonderful step towards a safer boating environment. Wearing a PFD is now something that is easy and fashionable...and best of all...are more apted to wear them and they work much better when you have them on! 

Here are some more helpful tips about life jackets from our boating safety staff that we are asked on a regular basis. Hopefully these tips will help you to safer on the water!

• Life jackets & PFDs must be approved by Transport Canada, Department of Transport, Canadian Coast Guard. If you purchase a life jacket or PFD in the US please note that while you may wear it here it is not approved in Canada and therefore you MUST have a Canadian approved jacket on board as well!
• Life jackets & PFDs must not be altered or repaired. Once they are ripped they are rendered to have lost their certification and we suggest that you discard of them. 
• wash you life jacket with mild soap and warm water and hang to dry.
• Do not expose lifejackets or PFDs to extreme heat, don't use them as a fender or in instances when they can suffer impact.
• While it is mandatory to have 1 properly sized life jacket or PFD on board your boat for each person on board, there is currently no mandatory life jacket wear legislation in Canada for any age of boater. With that said, we strongly recommend wearing them. 
• Wearing your life jacket/PFD is especially important in cold & in-climate weather, for small children & people with limited mobility, when boating alone and in all instances when those on board are uncomfortable around the water.We still urge you to recognize that the safest route is for everyone to wear them while underway.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you when you are out on the water this summer! If you are an advocate of lifejacket safety we urge you to check out http://www.readysetwearit.com/ and get your friends together to inflate your lifejackets on Saturday May 19th as groups from around the world aim to set a world record for life jacket wear.