Forming healthy habits when we’re young is typical stuff. We wash our hands before we eat and we wear a seat belt in a car. We may not have liked the constant nagging of a parent, but we recognize that it was for our own good to help keep us healthy and safe.
If you’re among the paddlers who aren’t exactly enthusiastic about wearing a life jacket, it’s time to channel your inner kid. Recall a time when you were forming a different healthy habit and had every excuse in the book to resist it.
Here are some common reasons people choose not to wear life jackets and some tips to help to move past the excuses.
“It’s not comfortable.”
Shop around for a style that fits you. While some people prefer a traditional life jacket that zips up or snaps in the front and offers instant buoyancy, some find them bulky, hot and restrictive. Look for a life jacket that features added ventilation. Or choose an inflatable style that fits over your shoulders but doesn’t restrict arm movement.
Purchase inflatable life jackets that are United States Coast Guard approved for this activity.
Wear them to comply with regulations. Inflatables are not recommended for cold weather use. They require CO2 cartridges that must be replaced after each use or upon expiration.
“This is cramping my style.”
While safety should always outshine fashion on the water, it’s understandable that you still want to look good while paddling. Choose a color or pattern that fits your personality that you’ll want to wear again and again.
Some paddlers choose a brightly colored life jacket that enhances visibility and matches their kayak or paddle. Others may prefer natural tones or camouflage to blend in with their surroundings. If you’re loyal to a certain outdoor brand, there’s a good chance your favorite company makes or sells a life jacket that matches some of your other favorite gear.
“My kids complain about having to wear one.”
While regulations are stricter for younger paddlers, it doesn’t mean kids don’t have any choices when it comes to life jackets. Instead of dusting off an old youth life jacket, take the child shopping for a new one and let them pick a color they like.
There’s no law that says a life jacket can’t be flashy or fun.
Let them see the price and explain that quality and safety go together. You will spend a few extra dollars to meet your child’s needs, but getting a young paddler excited about wearing a life jacket is priceless.
Stick with it.
A life jacket works best when you’re wearing it.
Unfortunately, people lose their lives every year while boating in Pennsylvania. About 80% of victims were not wearing a life jacket. Keep pushing yourself, your kids and your friends to put safety first on the water, so you can focus on having fun.
Adapted from the November/December Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Magazine.
Your fishing license dollars at work.
Funds from fishing license sales help the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission protect and improve water quality and protect and manage reptiles, amphibians and other aquatic life. The agency works to ensure aquatic resources remain protected and water quality supports aquatic life; tracks endangered, threatened and rare animals under the PFBC’s jurisdiction; and manages species restoration efforts and habitat protections and improvement.
