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As a Manitoba boat owner, do you need to bother with lifejackets? Are you legally required to wear them?
You may believe you legally don’t need to have lifejackets on your boat because you’re a responsible boat owner. You would be wrong in this case as a boat owner. It’s also possible you believe that personal flotation devices (PFDs) aren’t necessary because you, your family, and friends all know how to swim.
A life vest can save your life even if you know how to swim.
One of the highest, if not the highest, fatal risks while boating is drowning.
Transport Canada says you are required by law to have a lifejacket or PFD (personal flotation device) on board for each person on a watercraft.
Transport Canada does not currently mandate that people wear lifejackets while boating, only that there is a lifejacket for each person on board the boat.
For safety, you should wear a lifejacket. It’s a good idea to have brightly colored lifejackets for better visibility, especially in smaller, open boats.
On average, there are 22 fatal drownings in Manitoba every year. Lifesaving Society Manitoba reports that about 72% of these drownings occur between May and September. Not wearing a lifejacket is a major factor in boat-related drownings in Manitoba.
Look for a lifejacket or PFD with a label that says it has been approved by:
Look for these safety features:
Your chest size: For adults, chest size is the primary factor to determine the correct size, not your weight. Measure your chest.
Remember that Manitoba boat insurance is an investment to protect you, your passengers, and your boat.
A lifejacket for your child should fit snugly and not ride up over their chin or ears. There should be less than 7.6 cm (3 inches) between your child’s shoulders and the lifejacket.
Your child’s lifejacket should have a safety strap that goes between the legs to prevent it from slipping over your child's head.
If your child’s life jacket is too big, it can fail to properly support their head and neck and it can slip up or ride up, interfering with their ability to breathe and to float.
In cold water, a life jacket helps keep you buoyant and provides some thermal protection, which can help prevent hypothermia.
If you suddenly fall into cold water, it’s a shock to your system and can affect breathing, nerves, and muscle strength.
A lifejacket keeps your head above water.
What about my pet? How do I prevent my dog from drowning?
Just like humans, your pet should wear a life jacket for safety when out boating with you. Even if your dog is a good swimmer, they can get tired and need help getting back on board.
Make sure to get a lifejacket that is designed for your pet species and fits properly.
Lifejackets (PFDs) can save lives. They can prevent drowning and keep you afloat if you get tired and are waiting to be rescued. A lifejacket can increase your chances of survival, especially in cold water where hypothermia can set in quickly.
Wearing a lifejacket is effective because most boating-related drowning victims were not wearing one at the time of the incident.
Alcohol is a major risk factor because it impairs judgment, balance, and reaction time. Alcohol is involved in a significant percentage of boating fatalities.
Children can drown quickly and silently and it can be due to a lack of direct adult supervision. Most child drownings occur when adults are distracted or not present.
Do not boat alone, check the weather forecast and boating conditions, and have enough safety equipment on your boat. Knowing how to swim and wearing a lifejacket can also help prevent drowning while boating.
Significantly more young men drown than young women in Canada. Across all age groups, males are much more likely to drown. Drowning rates for males are consistently over four times higher than for females.
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