Life Jackets

How to Swim in a Life Jacket

Swimming with a life jacket is ideal for those learning how to swim or individuals swimming in lakes, oceans and rivers, since swimming in these areas can be more dangerous than swimming in a pool. A life jacket can protect you from waves and rapid currents as well as keep you safe if you become fatigued. Due to the bulkiness of a life jacket, you will need to ensure a proper fit of the life jacket before attempting to swim. While swimming with a life jacket you can opt to use your arms, legs or both.

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All About Life Jackets

Can You Wear a Life Jacket When Snorkeling?

Even competent swimmers can tire in the water and should consider wearing a flotation device or swimming aid. For snorkelers, this means either a life jacket or a snorkeling vest. These devices function differently and hold uni...

Which Life Jacket is for Kayaking?

A life jacket, also called a personal flotation device or life vest, is an essential tool for all forms of water sports. Several types of life jackets are available, each specifically designed to address the needs of a given sp...

How to Choose a Life Jacket

Choosing the right type of life jacket can make the difference between life and death. Life jackets must be worn when participating in any type of water sport activity, such as jet skiing, boating and fishing. Life jackets are ...

How to Teach a Child to Float With a Life Jacket

In less than 45 seconds, your child can drown without anyone aware it is happening. Don't let your child become a drowning victim. Always have your child wear a life jacket and teach them to float while wearing it. A life jacke...

The Best Life Jackets

Life jackets are an essential part of any lake, ocean or river trip. They prevent accidents and keep people safe on the water. However, not all life jackets are created equal. The United States Coast Guard has a grading system ...

How to Fit a Child Life Jacket

Even skilled swimmers can struggle in swift currents or cold water temperatures. A life jacket, combined with parental supervision, protects your child at the beach, on a boat or even in a swimming pool. Maximize your child's s...

How to Remove Mold From a Life Jacket

Proper cleaning and maintenance of a life jacket will keep it mold- and mildew-free, and it should remove small spots on the surface. Cleaning agents designed to remove mold may not be the best choice for a life jacket. Accordi...

Types of Life Preservers

When you go boating, it's not enough just to have life preservers on board for each member of your party. According to the Ohio Deptartment of Natural Resources life jackets need to be in good shape with all parts intact, and t...

Life Vest Instructions

A life vest can be a life saver. But a life vest that does not fit properly can actually endanger the person wearing it as much as not wearing a vest, advises the Oregon State Marine Board. Some 80 percent of boating deaths in ...

Smart Shopping for Life Jackets

Also called personal floatation devices (PFDs), life preservers or life vests, life jackets can save a life, but only if actually worn. Life jackets are approved by the Coast Guard in the United States. They should be sized ri...