There are quite a few life jackets to choose from these days. There are three kinds, and six types of PFDs. First, the three kinds are “Inherently Buoyant,” “Inflatable,” and “Hybrid.” The first is made primarily of foam and is rugged and easy to maintain. Adults and children, swimmers and non-swimmers alike are approved to have these PFDs. The Inflatable life jackets can either be manually activated, or will fill with air once submerged in water. The only downfall is that these PFDs must be maintained regularly in order to work properly, and are only recommended for swimmers. The final kind is the Hybrid, made of foam and inflation. It can be worn by both swimmers and non-swimmers alike, but must also be regularly maintained.
TYPE I – OFF-SHORE JACKET
- Best for open, rough or remote water, where rescue may be slow coming
- Offers the best flotation support
- Most effective for turning unconscious wearers face-up in water
- TYPE I Inflatables have two chambers for CO2 cartridges and indicate when cylinders are empty or faulty
TYPE II – NEAR-SHORE VEST
- Good for calm, inland water, where fast rescue is most likely
- Suitable for rough recreational water uses
- Turns most unconscious wearers face-up in water
- TYPE II Inflatables inflate automatically when submerged
TYPE III – FLOTATION AID
- Generally the most comfortable for continuous wear
- Good for calm inland water, where fast rescue is most likely
- Offers most variety of style and size options
- TYPE III Inflatables keep many unconscious wearers face up in water
TYPE IV – THROWABLE DEVICE
- Best for calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic where help is always nearby
- Mostly used as a flotation cushion
- Able to throw large distances providing immediate aid to overboard victims with no life jacket
TYPE V – SPECIAL USE DEVICES
- Best for special uses or extreme weather conditions
- Not Multi-use capable, TYPE Vs are designed specifically for ONE commercial rate or professional activity
- Be sure to check PFD label for limits of use
- Some TYPE V PFDs are approved ONLY while worn