Ask any kid. Summer means fun in the water, the pool, the water park, the lake or the beach. For parents, that means providing young and inexperienced swimmers with a little help in the form of personal flotation devices.
Approved Personal Flotation Devices
“Not all flotation devices are created equal,” said Jennifer Northway, director of Injury Prevention at University Health. You can find inflatable novelty items at your local store, but they might not be useful in an emergency. For young children, the safest option is a U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation device. All flotation devices are required to state clearly whether they are approved or not.
When choosing a life vest for an infant or small child, keep these four key features in mind:
- Padded head support: helps keep their heads out of the water
- Grab handle: allows you to lift the child out of the water in an emergency
- Horizontal straps: available in one or two straps across the front
- Leg strap: provides extra security with a strap between the legs
The between-the-legs strap is important when the child is struggling in the water and needs to be pulled out by the vest. Without the bottom strap, the child will slip through the life vest back into the water. Youth-sized vests look like adult personal flotation devices and have the same features.
The more straps a flotation device has, the more adjustments can be made for a snug fit. In contrast, unapproved arm bands and other flotation devices are not safe.
Choosing the Right-Sized Vest
"Parents need to select the right-sized life vest based on the child's current weight, not one they will grow into," Northway said. "Otherwise, they could slip out of the vest."
To choose correctly, check the packaging and label to see if it includes your child's weight range. The good news is approved flotation devices can be found in many sports and department stores. You can also download this life jacket bag tag to carry around when choosing a vest at a theme park, public pool or buying one at a store.
More Water Safety Tips
Once your kids have the right life vest, brush up on additional water safety tips.
Kids are used to being around water in bathtubs, but they may not know water can be dangerous. Even with the right life vest, always watch children closely around water. This is why it's important to designate a ‘water watcher’ to keep an eye on children in water at all times.
In addition, teach your kids to swim as early as possible and consider learning CPR — you might save a life.
Injury Prevention at University Health
Learn more about Injury Prevention at University Health for kids and adults on our website.
