Standard-offers the best protection and are the made the sturdiest. They are good because they are made to roll you onto your back and keep your face out of the water, even if you are unconscious. Standard life jackets are particularly good to wear on rough waters but just fine for any type of water conditions.
Standard life jackets are sold in bright red, orange and yellow colours so you can be easily seen and faster in the water. These life jackets are found to have more sizes available than the Small Boat/Vessel Life Jacket.
Small Boat/Vessel- mostly worn on smaller bodies of water (ponds, lakes, rivers but they are not as safe as the standard life jackets. They do not float as well as the Standard life jacket, are not available in very many sizes and they roll a person slower from front to back in the water. This can cause water intake.
PDF's (otherwise known as Personal Floatation Devices):
Boaters use PDF's mostly for crafts such as speed boats, wet biking, water skiing, canoeing, sailing..Etc. They are sold in many colours but the best colours to buy are red, orange or yellow. These colours are better because you are found faster in the water by rescuers.
People who cannot swim very well and children should not wear PDF's. They do not float very well and they turn a person over in the water slower than the Standard Life Jackets.
Choose the correct PDF according to what you are doing. If you are going to be going at high speeds then a PDF which has three or more chest belts is needed. If you are going to have your craft on cold water then your PDF should be the thermal type.
Children and Life Jackets/PDF's:
A child's life jacket/PDF needs to have a large collar to support the head in case there is an emergency. Ties should be tied at the front around the middle and ensure that the life jacket as straps between the legs. This prevents a child from slipping through the head of the life jacket. Children must never wear an adult life jacket. It is a good idea to let a child wear a life jacket in the water so you can make sure it fits properly and so they can get accustomed to it. Then they are not as frightened, if they fall out of a boat. They will learn that life jackets will to keep them safe.
Life Jacket Tips:
Life jackets must fit snuggly and according to a person's weight. All of the straps are adjustable.
Each year, you need to inspect the life jackets for rips/tears and worn out areas.
Give all the straps a tug to make sure they are all still sturdy. Also never use a life jacket to kneel on in a boat. It can change the fit, comfort and how well it floats.
