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Health for Life: Wear a life jacket

I always carry a life jacket in my boat – it’s the law. Do I really have to wear it all the time? The law does require that you have a life jacket (also known as a PFD – personal flotation device) available to each person in a boat.
I always carry a life jacket in my boat – it’s the law. Do I really have to wear it all the time?

The law does require that you have a life jacket (also known as a PFD – personal flotation device) available to each person in a boat. However, it’s not enough to simply carry them along.

Most of us have heard or read of a sad story involving a missing angler that all too often ends in tragedy. They were not wearing a life jacket.

Mishaps on the water happen too fast to reach stowed life jackets. Many unpredictable situations such as sharp turns, operator inattention, weather changes, collisions and misuse of drugs or alcohol can change the outcome of your fishing/boating trip.
Today’s life jackets are:
  • More comfortable
  • Less restrictive
  • Customized with various styles and colours
  • Light weight and
  • Available in new inflatable versions


There’s a life jacket for everyone and no reason for not wearing one.

Drowning remains the number one cause of death in recreational boating mishaps.
According to the Canadian Red Cross, up to 200 Canadians will drown this year as a result of boating-related incidents.

Most drowning related victims are 10 feet or less from a safe place and never intended to enter the water.
Drowning occurs rapidly and soundlessly, averaging 20 seconds in small children and less than a minute in adults. In the cold water of Northwestern Ontario, even experienced swimmers quickly become weak and helpless.

When a person is suddenly immersed in cold water, the body’s first reflexive action is to gasp for air, followed by increased heart rate, blood pressure and disorientation.

The immersion can even lead to cardiac arrest (the heart stopping). Without proper equipment, a person can become unable to swim or respond in a way to save their lives.

Adults who always wear their life jackets set a good example for children. As they grow up into the next generation of boaters, they’ll continue to set an example for their own children about the importance of PFDs.

Remember, life jacket safety doesn’t just apply to children. Anyone can drown.

The number one thing any boater can do to stay safe on the water is to always wear their life jacket.

Judi Marton is a Public Health Nurse with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit working in the area of injury prevention. She is a member of the community coalition SAVE- Snowmobiling ATV & Vessel Education committee.





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