It is just as important to wear a life jacket as it is for you to wear a seatbelt when in a car. Show
Life Jackets and the LawIf you are operating a boat, canoe or kayak of any length, you must carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. If stored, they should be readily accessible. Children under 13 years of age must wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while underway in a boat. What to know before buying a Life Jacket: • Life jackets are also called Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s). • Unless the life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved, you cannot be sure that it will keep you afloat. • Add a whistle to your life jacket so that you can blow it if you need help. • Select the right life jacket for the type of boating and/or activities you will be doing. • Check that the life jacket is appropriate for your weight and chest size. • Check that it is properly fitted and fully clipped or zipped up. • Check for a snug fit. Adjust straps and buckles to ensure a proper fit that does not restrict breathing. If you lift a partner’s life jacket by the shoulders, the life jacket should not ride up to cover the wearer’s ears. Readjust the straps and buckles, and if it still does not pass the lift test, try a different size. Types of Life JacketsAll life jackets should be U.S. approved, appropriate for your size, fit snugly and be the correct type. Select the right life jacket for the type of boating and/or activities you will be doing. TYPE I (Off-Shore) • Floats Best. • Turns most unconscious wearer face up in water. • Highly visible color. • Bulky. SIZES: Only two sizes to fit most children and adults. TYPE II (Near-Shore, Buoyant) • Turns many but not all unconscious wearers face up in water. • Not for long hours in rough water. • Will not turn some unconscious wearers face up in the water. SIZES: Infant, Child-Small, Child-Medium, Adult. TYPE III (Floatation Aid) • Generally the most comfortable for continuous wear because of the freedom of movement. • Not for long hours in rough water. • Wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid face-down position in the water. SIZES: Many individual sizes from Child-Small to Adult. TYPE IV (Throwable Device) Good for calm inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby. • Not for unconscious persons. • Not for non-swimmers or children. • Not good for many hours in rough water. TYPES: Cushions, rings and horse shoe buoys. TYPE V (Special Use Device) Must be used for approved activities only. (See label for limits and use) VARIETIES: Include vests for sailboarding and rafting, deck suits, work vests, hybrid PFDs and others. Children need to wear PFDs whenever they are around the water. They also need to be taught how to properly wear a PFD and get used to wearing one. Understandably, children often panic when they suddenly fall into the water. Panicking can make it difficult for the child to float face up, even when wearing a PFD. So, children should get used to wearing a PFD in the water before heading out on vessel. It's also critical that a child's lifejacket fit properly; careful consideration must always be given when choosing an infant or child-sized PFD. After buying a PFD, you'll also want to test the fit in safe and shallow water. The fit must be snug enough that the child must not be able to slip out of the lifejacket!
Life jackets for infants and smaller children (less than 50 pounds) should have a crotch strap to ensure a snug fit, as well as a large float collar for head support. A good way to test a child's lifejacket is to pick the child up by the shoulders of the PFD. If you've got the right fit, the PFD will not slip above the child's chin and ears. Before buying a lifejacket for a child, always check the user label. The user label will indicate the weight range for which the lifejacket is approved. This table provides a guide of lifejacket sizes and weight ranges.
Finally, remember that a child's PFD or lifejacket is never a substitute for proper adult supervision.
When you’re out sailing, canoeing, kayaking, or water-skiing, you need to be prepared at all times. Wearing a life jacket or Personal Floatation Device (PFD) is a must, even if you’re a great swimmer. A life jacket will help you stay afloat in case of emergency and prevent you from drowning. If you lose consciousness, a good life jacket will also keep your body in an upright position in the water, allowing you to breathe without taking in water through your nose or mouth. In this article, I’ll list all current life jacket laws by state so you can quickly learn the local laws and PFD requirements in your waterways. What is a Life Jacket?A life jacket is typically made from thick, insulated material. The best life jackets keep you upright in the water so you can breathe even if you lose consciousness. Some will even insulate you to keep you warm while you wait for rescue. Is Wearing a Life Jacket Required?In the United States, wearing a life jacket is mandatory in every state. The laws vary somewhat from one state to the next in terms of the minimum age requirement, type of vessel, or when the vessel is moored or underway. For states that have no life jacket laws for children, the US Coast Guard (USCG) provides an interim rule that requires children under 13 years of age who are on moving vessels to wear a USCG-approved life jacket that fits. So the rule of thumb for every state is that if you’re under 13, you are required to wear a life jacket in a moving boat. What Are the Life Jacket Laws in Every US State?The table below lists life jacket laws by state. Click on the name of any of the states and you’ll jump to a more detailed description of the current PFD requirements for that U.S. state:
PFD Requirements and other Life Jacket Laws by StateALABAMAIn Alabama, all boats operating on waterways must carry one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed. Vessel operators must ask everyone on board to wear a PFD whenever on the water. All life jackets must be in good condition and in a size that fits the intended wearer.
ALASKAIn the state of Alaska, local life jacket laws require all vessel and boat operators to properly carry, store, and use safety equipment. Each boat must have one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket or PFD for each person on board or being towed.
ARIZONAThe state of Arizona requires all boat operators to carry at least one wearable USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger. This includes watercrafts such as paddleboards and kayaks. All life jackets must be in good condition and in a size that fits the intended wearer. Life jackets should be readily available. They cannot be stowed or locked inside compartments or plastic bags.
ARKANSASIn Arkansas, all persons, including children under 13 years old, aboard any water vessel must wear a UCG-approved life jacket or PFD all the time, except when the boat is not underway and the child is an enclosed area or an area enclosed by railings.
CALIFORNIACalifornia state laws require children under 13 years old on board any moving recreational vessel wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD all the time. Unless the child is in an enclosed area or cabin, in a vessel engaged in emergency rescue, or if they are in a harness tethered to a sailboat.
COLORADOIn Colorado, all children 12 years old or younger aboard any moving recreational vessel must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD, except when they are in an enclosed area or below deck. All boats operated on waterways must carry one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
CONNECTICUTConnecticut state laws require children 12 years old or younger aboard any moving recreational vessel must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD, except when they are in an enclosed area or below deck. All boats operated on waterways must carry one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
DELAWAREIn Delaware, passengers below 12 years old must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD, except when they are in an enclosed area or below deck. All life jackets must be in good condition and in a size that fits the intended wearer. Life jackets should be readily available and cannot be stowed or locked inside compartments or plastic bags.
FLORIDAFlorida boating rules require children age 6 and under to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD when on board any vessel measuring less than 26 feet in length and is underway. Life jackets should be readily available and cannot be stowed or locked inside compartments.
GEORGIAIn Georgia, children below 13 years old must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while in any moving vessel, except when inside a fully enclosed cabin.
HAWAIIIn Hawaii, all vessels must have at least one USCG-approved life jacket for each passenger on board. Children under 13 years old must wear a life jacket while the vessel is underway. Except when they’re in an enclosed cabin or below deck, or if the vessel is anchored.
IDAHOIdaho local laws requires all recreational vessels to have at least one USCG-approved Type I, II, or III PFD for each person on board or being towed. Children under 15 years must wear a life jacket or PFD at all times while the vessel is underway.
ILLINOISIllinois local laws require all recreational vessels have at least one USCG-approved PFD for each person on board or being towed. Children under 13 years must wear a life jacket or PFD at all times while the vessel is underway, except when below deck in an enclosed cabin or of the vessel is on private property.
INDIANAIn the state of Indiana, children under 13 years old must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on a moving vessel on waters of Concurrent Jurisdiction. Except when the child is in an enclosed cabin below deck or the vessel is docked or moored. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
IOWAIowa state laws requires wearing of a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for children under 13 years of age on any moving water craft, except when the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
KANSASIn the state of Kansas, the laws require children under age 12 to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
KENTUCKYIn Kentucky, children under 13 years old are required to wear a USCG-approved life jacket when on an open deck of any moving water craft. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
LOUISIANALouisiana state laws require children under 17 years old to wear a USCG-approved life jacket when on any moving water craft less than 26 feet in length. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
MAINEMaine state laws require children 10 years or younger to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times on any vessel. All boat operators are required to carry at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed on their vessel.
MARYLANDIn Maryland, children under 13 years old must wear a USCG-approved life jacket of PFD while underway on any vessel. Except when the child is in an enclosed cabin below deck or when the vessel is docked or moored. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
MASSACHUSETTSIn Massachusetts, children younger than 12 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while the vessel is underway, unless the child is below deck. All boat operators are required to carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed their vessel.
MICHIGANMichigan laws require children under 6 years old to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while the vessel is underway and when on open deck. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
MINNESOTAMinnesota state laws require children under 10 years old to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while the vessel is underway. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
MISSISSIPPIIn Mississippi, children 12 years of age or under must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while the vessel is underway. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
MISSOURIMissouri boating laws require children under 7 years of age to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any watercraft. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
MONTANAMontana boating laws require children under 12 years of age to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any moving watercraft with less than 26 feet in length. Sailboard operators younger than 15 years are also required to wear PFD all the time.
NEBRASKAIn Nebraska, children 13 years or younger must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any watercraft. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NEVADAIn Nevada, children under 13 years must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any moving watercraft. All vessels, except sailboards, must carry at least one USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NEW HAMPSHIREIn New Hampshire, children under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any moving watercraft, unless the vessel is enclosed by 3 feet high railings. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NEW JERSEYIn New Jersey, children 13 years of age or under must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any moving watercraft, unless they are in an enclosed cabin. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NEW MEXICONew Mexico state laws require children 12 years of age or under to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any moving watercraft, unless they are in an enclosed cabin or below deck. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NEW YORKNew York state laws require all children under 12 years of age to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD at all times while aboard any watercraft less than 65 feet long unless they are in an enclosed cabin or below deck. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NORTH CAROLINAIn North Carolina, state laws require children under 13 years old to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any moving vessel, except when the child is in an enclosed cabin or below deck. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
NORTH DAKOTAIn North Carolina, state laws require children 10 years old or younger to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any moving vessel (including unpowered watercrafts) less than 27 feet long. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
OHIOOhio boating laws require children 10 years old or younger to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any vessel less than 18 feet long. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
OKLAHOMAIn the state of Oklahoma boating laws require children under 13 years old to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any moving vessel less than 26 feet long. All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
OREGONIn Oregon, state laws require children 12 years old or younger to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on the open deck of any moving watercraft or while the vessel is being towed. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board or being towed.
PENNSYLVANIAIn Pennsylvania, boating laws require children 12 years old or younger to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any moving watercraft less than 21 feet in length. All vessels must have at least one USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
RHODE ISLANDRhode Island state laws require children under 13 years of age to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any moving vessel less than 65 feet long. All vessels must have at least one USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
SOUTH CAROLINAIn South Carolina, all children under 12 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any watercraft less than 16 feet in length. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
SOUTH DAKOTAIn South Dakota, all children under 7 years old must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any watercraft operating at “slow, no-wake speed”, except when the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin. All vessels must carry at least one USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
TENNESSEEIn Tennessee, all children under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on the open deck of any watercraft when it is underway. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
TEXASIn Tennessee, state law requires all children under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board a vessel less than 26 feet long is underway. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
UTAHUtah state laws require children 12 years old or under to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while on board any vessel. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
VERMONTIn Vermont, state laws require all children under 12 years of age on board a moving vessel, and persons on sailboards under 16 years old to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
VIRGINIAIn Virginia, all children under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while aboard an underway vessel. Each vessel must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
WASHINGTONWashington state laws require children under 13 years to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while aboard a vessel less than 19 feet long and that’s underway. All vessels must carry at least one USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
WEST VIRGINIAIn West Virginia, all children under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while aboard an underway vessel. Each vessel must have at least one Type I, II, or III USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
WISCONSINIn Wisconsin, all children under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while aboard an underway vessel. All vessels must carry at least one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
WYOMINGWyoming state laws require children under 13 years to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD while aboard an underway vessel, except when the child is riding in an enclosed cabin. All vessels must carry at least one USCG-approved life jacket or PFD for every passenger on board.
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