Life Jacket Training Series: Part 2 - Proper Fit

Life Jacket Series: Part 2 - Proper Fit

Throughout the world, one million children die of unintentional injuries each year. Millions of other children are injured in ways that can affect them for a lifetime. The good news is that these injuries are preventable. There are solutions that are proven to work especially when it comes to keeping children safe around water.

Research shows survivors of boating accidents were two times more likely to survive when wearing a life jacket. In addition, there is evidence to show that simple act of wearing a life jacket for the first time improves one's performance on donning a second life jacket - which means using an object to reduce drowning is teachable.  The Dangerous Waters Report by Safe Kids Worldwide confirms what most professionals know to be true that the group with the highest risk of drowning are children aged one through four years.

Safe Kids Maricopa County and Phoenix Children's Hospital have embarked on a research study with a new approach focusing on teaching parents of 1-4 year olds how to properly select and fit a life jacket to increase use in swimming pools. This prospective study is an attempt to answer the question, "Can we encourage the use of life jackets in a swimming pool without the loss of supervision by parents?"

Follow this three-part series to learn more!

Life Jacket Series: Part 1 - Devices
Life Jacket Series: Part 2 - Proper Fit

Select a life jacket that fits your child based on his/her weight, and any other sizing on the life jacket such as chest size. Make sure your child's weight is within a range marked on the life jacket. The life jacket should fit snugly, but not too tightly. Do not buy a life jacket that your child will "grow into."

Life Jacket Size, Weight Range, Approximate Chest Size
Youth, 50 to 90 lbs, 26" - 29 "
Child, 30 to 50 lbs, 20" - 25"
Infant, Less than 30 lbs, 16" - 20"

Have your child try on the life jacket and test its fit by lifting the child up by the shoulders of the life jacket - the life jacket is too large if it slips up over the child's chins or ears. Always use leg straps, if provided, to keep the life jacket securely in place.