Specifications

16 17

StartwithalifejacketthatisUSCoastGuard-approvedTryiton
ItshouldfitcomfortablysnugThengiveitthistest:withallstraps,
zippers,andtiessecurelyfastened,raiseyourarmsoveryourhead
ThejacketshouldstayinplaceandnotrideupNext,havesomeone
liftyourlifejacketstraightupattheshouldersAgain,thejacketshould
stayinplaceIfthezippertouchesyournoseorthejacketalmost
comesoff,itistooloose

Inshallowwateroraswimmingpool,undersupervisionandwithall
straps,zippers,andtiesfastened,seehowthelifejacketfloatsyou
RelaxyourbodyandletyourheadtiltbackYourchinshouldremain
abovewatersothatyoucanbreatheeasilyIfnot,youmayneeda
differentsizeormodel,onethatprovidesmorebuoyancy

Besuretochooseachild’slifejacketthatisUSCoastGuard-
approvedChecktomakesureyourchild’sweightfallswithintherange
shownonthelabelWhilesomechildreninthe30-50poundweight
rangewhocanswimmayaskfortheextrafreedomofmovement
thataTypeIIIprovides,notethatmostchildreninthisweightrange,
especially
thosewhocannotswim,shouldwearaTypeIITocheckfor
agoodfit,pickthechildupbytheshouldersofthelifejacketIfitfits
correctly,thechild’schinandearswillnotslipthrough
Achild’slifejacketshouldbetestedinthewaterimmediatelyafter
purchaseChildrenmaypanicwhentheyfallintothewatersuddenly
Floattestingnotonlychecksthefitandbuoyancybutalsoprovidesan
importantopportunitytoteachthemtorelaxinthewater

Mostdeathsfromdrowningoccurnearshoreincalmweather,notout
atseaduringastorm;9outof10drowningfatalitiesoccurininland
waters,mostwithinafewfeetofsafetyWorsestill,manyofthese
victimsownedlifejacketsandmayhavesurvivedhadtheybeenworn



VesselsoperatingonUScoastalwaters,theGreatLakes,and
territorialseas,aswellasthosewatersconnecteddirectly,uptoa
pointwherethewaterwayislessthantwonauticalmileswide,must
beequippedwithUSCoastGuard-approvedvisualdistresssignals
(VDS)VesselsownedintheUnitedStatesandoperatingonthehigh
seas
mustalsobeequippedwithUSCoastGuard-approvedvisual
distresssignals
Thefollowingvesselsarenotrequiredtocarrydaysignals,butmust
carrynightsignalswhenoperatingfromsunsettosunrise:
• Recreationalboatslessthan16feetinlength
• Boatsparticipatinginorganizedevents,suchasraces,regattas,
ormarineparades
• Opensailboatslessthan26feetinlengththatarenotequipped
withpropulsionmachinery
• Manuallypropelledboats
The carriage requirement is only applicable in areas
where VDS are required.

PyrotechnicvisualdistresssignalsmustbeUSCoast
Guard-approved,inserviceablecondition,andreadilyaccessible
ChecktheexpirationdateExpiredsignalsmaybecarriedasextra
equipment,butcannotbecountedtowardmeetingthevisualdistress
signalrequirement
Lessthan
2miles
OpenWater
River
Bay
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
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