A Course for Safe Boating

Chapter 1 u Personal Safety

SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER:

To make sure that your life jackets remain in good condition:  Do not alter the life jackets. An altered life jacket no longer meets legal requirements and may not save your life.  Do not place heavy objects on life jackets during storage.  Do not use life jackets as kneeling pads, boat fenders, or seat cushions because they lose buoyancy when they’re crushed.  Let life jackets air-dry thoroughly before putting them away.  Always store your life jackets in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight.  Never dry your life jackets by a direct heat source, such as a dryer, heater, or radiator.  Before wearing, check life jackets for signs of wear and

age. Look for rips or tears, mildew, loose or missing straps, frayed webbing, broken zippers or buckles, and hardened stuffing. A life jacket with any of these problems must be replaced.

REVIEW QUESTIONS: LIFE JACKETS

Answer these questions by circling T for true or F for false. 1. Although life jackets come in different styles, there is no difference in their capacity to save a person. . . T F 2. For added safety, it’s a good idea to attach a whistle to your life jacket. T F 3. The nice thing about life jackets is that one size fits all. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T F 4. You should always check your life jacket for signs of wear or age before using it . . . . . . . . . T F 5. All passengers should wear Coast Guard-approved, properly fitted life jackets under the following conditions: in rough seas, more than 3 miles off shore, riding on any boat underway, when the wearer is not a good swimmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T F Turn to page 100 for correct answers.

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California Boating  A Course for Safe Boating