USCG Life Jacket – Three Emerging Trends in Personal Flotation Devices
There’s no doubt that wearing a USCG life jacket can save your life. Select only a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket, the right size and weight for the person wearing it. Weigh children and measure the chest size under their arms before shopping for their lifejackets. Here’s our take on the three emerging trends in USCG-approved lifejackets that will shape boating safety requirements in the future.
- Inflatable USCG life jacket. Inflatable lifejackets are comfortable and they make boating in hot/humid weather a lot easier. Modern inflatable lifejackets are activated by an automatic mechanism, which uses a 33 or 38-gram carbon dioxide cylinder and a chemical bobbin. The bobbin disintegrates on contact with water, allowing the firing mechanism to puncture the carbon dioxide cylinder, and filling the chamber of the inflatable vest in about three seconds.
- Hybrid lifejacket. You can get a hybrid USCG life jacket that contains foam, and also works by inflation. Hybrids are designed for water sports, and you’ll find adult, youth and child sizes for swimmers and non-swimmers. They are thin and flexible, and come in a variety of shapes and colors. The comfortable fit of the hybrid means that there’s no longer any excuse for not wearing a lifejacket on the water.
- Belted life vest. This type of USCG life jacket can be adjusted for a comfortable fit depending on the conditions. They are great for use on powerboats and sailboats in fairly calm, warm water, where comfort and freedom of movement are important. They are also good for activities like wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skiing, and being towed on an inflatable tube.
Any rescue PFD aboard your boat should be USCG approved, in good functioning condition and the right size for the intended person. It is very important that the flotation jacket be on hand and ready to put on promptly in case of an emergency.