Lifejackets

View the TV commercial on 'Make Sure Life Goes On'.

Listen to the radio message on 'Make Sure Life Goes On'. Click on the icon.

	Listen to the NSW Maritime Boating Safety Tips with Steve Starling on lifejackets. Click on the icon.
	Listen to the 'Make Sure Life Goes On' message in Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese or
	Read the message in Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
	Know when to wear your lifejacket

Boating should be enjoyable, relaxing and fun but when safety and common sense take a back seat, things can go wrong with rapid speed.

The combination of a craft inappropriate for the conditions, changing weather and the absence of a lifejacket can be a fatal mix.

In this State, approximately 15 to 20 people lose their lives each year in recreational boating accidents and most are from drownings.

The majority of incidents involved either capsized boats or people falling overboard.

A lifejacket could make a difference to a person surviving such accidents, which typically occur in craft of less than 5.5m in length.

An awareness campaign featuring the slogan Boat Smart from the Start - know when to wear your lifejacket has been developed for the boating season.

Each year, NSW Maritime boating officers conduct approximately 36,000 spot vessels checks on the water and compliance with lifejacket requirements is often of concern.

Safety inspections revealed lifejackets on some craft were either missing, in poor condition or inaccessible should they be needed in a hurry.

The lifejacket issue boils down to two facts: it is compulsory to carry an appropriate jacket for each person and people need to know when to use them.

When do I need to wear a lifejacket?

It is not a lifejacket if you are not wearing it.

Do not wait for an emergency to wear your lifejacket. It is like wearing a seatbelt - not much use putting it on after an accident. It is important to remember that conditions on the water can change rapidly and in an unpredictable fashion.

In general, you should wear your lifejacket when:

• Boating in poor weather conditions
• Crossing a bar (a higher risk situation for capsize or swamping)
• Travelling at night
• When a squall or storm approaches

If you have children on board, or people who are poor swimmers encourage them to wear their lifejacket at all times. Ensure each person has a jacket of appropriate size and type - check with your local authority if unsure.

What type of lifejacket is suitable?

NSW Maritime boating officers conduct regular safety checks and one of the key pieces of safety equipment they look for are lifejackets. So make sure you have the correct lifejacket for the activity and conditions you intend to boat in.

There are three types of lifejackets approved for recreational boating.

Type 1 Lifejacket

There are two types: fixed buoyancy and those, which are self- or manually inflatable. This type of jacket is generally easily identifiable due to the buoyant collar, which offers protection from drowning by maintaining a person in a safe floating position in the water.

Type 1 lifejackets are:

• Compulsory for all persons on board vessels on the open seas;
• Recommended for remote inland water where search and rescue times may be long and conditions rough; and
• Recommended that passengers of small vessels wear a lifejacket whenever conditions are rough

Type 2 Lifejacket

This lifejacket is known as a buoyancy vest.

It is suitable for aquatic sports where boating activities are usually observable by others and rescue times are likely to be short. They are not designed to maintain a person in a safe floating position.

Suitable for activities such as:

• Sailing, Waterskiing, kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing; and
• Personal watercraft (PWC) users can also use a type 2 lifejacket.

Type 3 Lifejacket

This lifejacket is also known as a buoyancy vest.

It has similar buoyancy characteristics as the type 2 lifejacket but comes in a wider range of colours. Waterskiers and PWC riders favour these jackets.

They are not recommended for general boating use because the colours are less visible in search and rescue operations.

How many lifejackets do I need on board?

You need one lifejacket for every person on board. Make sure that they are stamped with the Australian Standards logo and are in good condition and accessible.

Why do I need a lifejacket?

Lifejackets save lives, it is that simple. Should your vessel capsize or you or a passenger fall overboard a lifejacket will keep them afloat until rescued.

Safety Message Translations

Translations of key safety messages have been provided into three languages: Chinese, Vietnamese, and Arabic. Select your language below to view messages and listen to the audio files.