When to Wear a Life Jacket in the U.S.
When to Wear a Life Jacket in the U.S.
Life jacket laws in the U.S. vary from state to state and, in some cases, according to the time of year. In specific areas, there are rules for wearing a life jacket while boating during the cold season. In many situations, life jackets must only legally be worn on boats by children.
Even when life jacket wear is not mandatory for adults, it is always recommended.
Key Takeaways
- Always wear a correctly-fitted, USCG-approved life jacket that is suitable for your chosen activity. It could save your life.
- Some U.S. states have specific life jacket laws that apply to boating in the cold season. These include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
- There are no specific laws related to life jacket wear at night. However, it is highly recommended, as there is a greater risk of collisions in poor visibility.
Life Jacket Basics for All Situations
When should you wear a life jacket? We say: Every time you go boating.
Over 80% of drowning victims in the United States were not wearing a life jacket at the time of their death.
Wearing a life jacket greatly improves your chance of survival, especially in dangerous situations such as cold water, bad weather (high winds and waves), poor visibility, and in areas where rescue could take a while.
For maximum safety, boaters should always do the following:
- Wear a United States Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Wear the correct type of life jacket for your activity. Note that inflatable PFDs are not approved for the same use as foam-filled.
- Verify that your life jacket is in good condition.
- Wear a correctly-fitted life jacket that is the right size and buoyancy for your body weight.
- Obey the life jacket laws for children (in most states, children under 12 years of age must wear a life jacket at all times on a boat) and for your specific State.
Wearing a life jacket may not always be required by law, but common sense dictates that you should do everything possible to stay safe out on the water.
Wearing a Life Jacket During Colder Seasons: State Laws
Several jurisdictions in the U.S. have mandatory cold-weather life jacket laws. In these areas, anyone riding in a small recreational boat must wear a life jacket during the cold-water season.
Connecticut
Anyone in a manually propelled recreational vessel must wear a life jacket from October 1st through May 31st.
Maine
Anyone canoeing or kayaking on the Saco River between the Hiram Dam and the Atlantic Ocean must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket between January 1st and June 1st.
Massachusetts
Boaters of all ages must wear life jackets between September 15th and May 15th when operating a canoe or kayak.
New York
In New York, recreational boaters in vessels under 21 feet in length (including non-motorized vessels) must wear a life jacket between November 1st and May 1st.
Pennsylvania
Recreational boaters in motorized and non-motorized vessels under 16 feet in length must wear a life jacket between November 1st and April 30th.
Note that specific boating locations may also have specific cold weather life jacket requirements. Always check with local authorities before taking to the water.
Why Are There Laws for Wearing a Life Jacket in Cold Water?
When you fall into the water, your body responds by gasping, the classic symptom of cold water shock. An approved, correctly-fitted life jacket with a collar will keep your head above water so that you do not inhale water and drown.
Life jackets also help prevent death by hypothermia by helping maintain your body heat once you are in the water.
Wearing a Life Jacket at Night
United States law does not include specific rules for wearing a life jacket at night. However, it is highly recommended that anyone boating in dangerous conditions wear a life jacket. Dangerous conditions include conditions of poor visibility, such as night boating (even with the correct navigation lights).
There is a greater risk of collisions when boating at night, as boaters may experience poorer depth perception and have trouble identifying navigation aids. This means there is also a greater risk of ending up in the water.
Be safe: wear a life jacket at night.
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