All About Life Jackets in the Pool

Lets talk life jackets for pool time. Parents want to do everything to keep their young children safe in and around water. Some say life jackets are the safest choice, but are they? Let me share some information with you, so you can make an informed decision for your kids and family.

What is a Life Jacket?

A life jacket is any wearable personal flotation device (PFD) designed to keep a person above water. The most common types are type II (designed to turn most unconscious people over to allow then to breathe) and type III (support a conscious person in the water in an upright position). The inside of any US Coast Guard approved devices will have this information posted. If there is no information, the product has not been evaluated, and should be considered a toy rather than a life jacket.

When Should a Life Jacket be Worn?

A lifejacket is a tool, and like any tool, it should be used as designed. They are NOT designed to teach someone to swim, they may even delay the child from learning to swim. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a purpose. So when should kids wear them?

• When on a boat? – Always. 
• When learning to swim? – Never. 
• During a fun family swim day? – Well that’s up to you and what is best for your family. 

So, Should My Child Wear One in the Pool?

Since life jackets are not for learning to swim, some aquatics professionals recommend against using them in the pool at all. They worry that kids will learn to rely on lifejackets. Kids may not understand that they do not know how to swim. Since kids used to wearing life jackets every swim time can be overconfident in their abilities, they may jump into the water without the understanding that they will not pop back up without their flotation. I’ve definitely heard stories about this dangerous move.

In 69% of drowning incidents involving young kids, the child was not expected to be at the pool¹, therefore would not have been wearing a lifejacket. The safest option, therefore, is for your child to learn to swim. Obviously this is easier said than done, and requires consistent practice and effort to achieve.

What if My Child Can’t Swim Yet?

If your child is does not yet know how to swim, the best place for them in the pool is in your arms. This keeps them safe, allows them to get comfortable in the water, and will not delay them from learning to swim. But sometimes what is best isn’t always feasible.

If your family needs to use them though, go ahead, and don’t feel guilty. Not every pool visit needs to be the perfect swim lesson. I think it’s better to swim with a lifejacket than to not swim at all. As long as you understand that lifejackets won’t teach your child to swim, there is nothing wrong with using them sometimes. Just give your child plenty of opportunities to swim without it, so they understand that they do not know how to swim.

Reference

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/359.pdf ↩︎