143035_DBW Course_r3

Chapter 1 X Personal Safety

LIFE JACKET LABELS ARE CHANGING Did you know there is a new life jacket label? The old Type I, II, III, IV and V labels are being phased out. You may be seeing a new label on the inside of life jackets with a performance level icon with numbers 50, 70, 100 and 150 (newton measurement scale) like the one shown on this page. The new label DOES NOT make life jackets with the old label obsolete. Lower numbers offer more mobility, comfort, and style with good flotation, and are intended for near shore (calm water) activities. Higher level numbers offers greater flotation, turning, and stability in the water, and are for offshore activities (greater time to rescue). There are areas where you may be boating near shore when rescue is hours away, and a higher level is needed. Turnability: The arrow symbol indicates if the life jacket will turn an uncon scious wearer face up. Always test before use. Warnings: The triangle and round icons show the wearer that some life jack ets are not approved for specific water activities such as water skiing, tubing, personal watercraft (PWC), wakeboarding or whitewater paddling. You can continue to use your life jacket with the older label if it is in service able, good condition and appropriate for your activity.

TURNABILITY

WARNINGS

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 three 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 Course for Safe Boating