St. Clair County Dive Team
Water Safety
PFD Requirements
• All vessels must be equipped with PFD for each person onboard:
– USCG requires all vessels have at least one Type I, II, or III
USCG-approved PFD, wearable and of proper size
– Vessels less than 16 feet (or canoe or kayak) may choose to
have either a wearable or throwable PFD
• Vessels 16 ft. or longer must also have onboard, one Type IV
USCG-approved PFD that is readily accessible
Chapter 4 - The Legal
Requirements of Boating
Page 29
Type I and II PFD
Type I: Offshore Life Jackets
• For rough or remote waters where rescue may
take awhile
• Excellent for flotation -- will turn most
unconscious persons face up in water
Type II: Near-Shore Vests
• Good for calm waters and fast
rescues
• May lack capacity to turn
unconscious wearers face up
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Type III and IV PFD
Type III: Flotation Aids
• Good for calm waters and fast rescues
• Will not turn a person face up
• Some designed to inflate when you enter water
(only count if you have them on)
Type IV: Throwable Devices
•
Cushions or ring buoys designed to be thrown to
someone in trouble
•
Not for long hours in rough waters, non-swimmers or
the unconscious
Chapter 4 - The Legal
Requirements of Boating
Page 29
PFD Requirements (cont)
• Children under 6 years of age required to wear USCGapproved Type I or II PFD when riding on open deck of
any vessel
• Each person riding on or being towed behind a PWC must
wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, or III PFD.
– Persons under 12 years of age must wear Type I or II PFD.
– Inflatable PFDs not allowed on PWC
• All PFDs must be in good and serviceable condition and must
be readily accessible
Chapter 4 - The Legal
Requirements of Boating
Page 29
Lifesaving
Someone is drowning!
What do you do?
Reach, Throw, Row and Tow
Reach, Throw, Row and Tow
•Reach for the Victim
•Fish Pole
•Tree Branch
•Towel
•Jacket
Reach, Throw, Row and Tow
•Reach for the Victim
•Throw something to the victim
•Lifejacket or PFD
•Inner Tube
•Cooler
•Rope
Reach, Throw, Row and Tow
•Reach for the Victim
•Throw something to the victim
•Row-Use a boat or float
Reach, Throw, Row and Tow
•Reach for the Victim
•Throw something to the victim
•Row-Use a boat or float
•Tow- as a last resort, go in the water.
•Only if you can swim and wear a
PFD
Questions?