July 21, 2009
Life Jackets
Life jackets or personal flotation devices (PFDs) are an important part of water safety. They are designed to keep your head above water and in a position to facilitate proper breathing. Use life jackets that are tested by Underwater Laboratories and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.
There are several different types of life jackets that come in different sizes. Using the guidelines at the bottom of the page, make sure that you have the correct life jacket for every member of your family. When purchasing a life jacket, talk to the sales representative about the size and weight restrictions.
Safety Tips
Teach children how to put their life jackets on.
Make sure all straps are belted and in the right buckle.
Loose straps should be tucked securely.
Life jackets should fit snugly and not ride up the individual’s torso.
For children, try the jacket on the child and then lift him up by the top of the jacket. The jacket should not ride up over the chin and ears. If it does, try the smaller size. If you can’t drop a size – due to a weight restriction, find a jacket that has a crotch strap.
Make sure life jackets are not torn or leaking. Always dry life jacket before storing.
Life Jacket Safety Chart
Type I – Off-shore Life Jacket
Used in open or coastal waters and potentially rough seas where quick rescue may not be available. Will turn unconscious individuals face up in the water.
Sizes Adult
90 pounds or more
Child
89 pounds or less
Type II – Near-shore Buoyant VestUsed for general boating in calm water where quick rescue is available. Will turn most individuals face up in the water.
Sizes
Adult
90 pounds or more
Child
89 pounds or less
Infant
30 pounds or less
Type III – Flotation Aid
Used for general boating activities such as canoeing, kayaking, hunting and fishing, on calm water where quick rescue is available. Will provide face-up position in calm water, but is not intended to turn or maintain an unconscious individual face up in the water.
Sizes: Vary. Should be stated on tag sown to inside of vest with specific weight limits.
July 8, 2009
Parents and Caregivers Reminded that Summer Heat Makes It Especially Dangerous to Leave Children in Cars
The risk of a serious injury or death during hot weather is heightened for children left alone in vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned today. New research shows that for children hyperthermia (heat-stroke) is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths.
“Even with the windows rolled down two inches, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures on a hot summer day,” said Ronald Medford, Acting Deputy Administrator of NHTSA. “Children should never be left alone in or around a motor vehicle, not even for a quick errand. Any number of things can go critically wrong in the blink of an eye.” Each year, 262 children under the age of 14 are killed and 115,000 are injured in not-in-traffic incidents on private roads, driveways and in parking lots according to a new NHTSA study. Out of that number, 44 fatalities and 105,000 injuries are the result of non-crashes. These incidents include hyperthermia, strangulation by power windows, carbon monoxide poisoning and more.
Many of the remaining deaths and injuries in not-in-traffic incidents are the result of a vehicle backing over a child that the driver did not see.
Safety tips from NHTSA to prevent hyperthermia include:
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
• Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.
• Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open or with the engine running and the air conditioning on.
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.
• If you are bringing your child to daycare, and normally it’s your spouse or partner who brings them, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure everything went according to plan.
• Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare. Do things to remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle, such as:
– Writing yourself a note and putting the note where you will see it when you leave the vehicle;
– Placing your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle; or
– Keeping an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when he or she is leaving the vehicle.
• Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of children’s reach. If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk.
• If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Warning signs may include: red, hot, and moist or dry skin, no sweating, a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse, nausea or acting strangely. Cool the child rapidly. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately
