St. Clair County Dive Team

Water Safety

• 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

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PFD Requirements

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

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Type I and II PFD

Type II: Near-Shore Vests

• Good for calm waters and fast rescues

• May lack capacity to turn unconscious wearers face up

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)

Chapter 4 - The Legal Requirements of Boating

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Type III and IV PFD

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

• Children under 6 years of age required to wear USCG-approved 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

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PFD Requirements (cont)

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?