Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

Misty Blue · 08-23-2006, 05:53 PM

Dear dougNH

As previously stated I agree that it is just fine to take a child on board as long as you don't step out of the parent's "comfort zone".

I'll take this chance to segway to one of my favorite topics. Kids and PFDs.

With all of the ballyhoo about boater safety (speed limits, education. PWC and skiing rules etc.) is seems incredible to me that a child who is six years old is not required to wear a PFD when underway in NH! In Mass it is 11 and under.

Now some advice on the purchase of your new kiddie PFD.

1. It must be US Coast Guard approved.

2. (This is very important) It must be properly sized for the child. That is, on the lable of the PFD there will be information on chest sizes and weights of the child. It can't be too small and It can't be TOO BIG! When your seven year old takes a ride in Uncle Tony's boat, Uncle Tony's adult PFD just will not do. If the youth goes over the side with a "too big" life jacket (Type3) he will slide down into the jacket and end up with his arms in the air and his face below the water. Yup. This happens.

3. I like putting an infant in a PFD that has a crotch strap to keep the jacket from riding up and a floating collar with a grab strap to assist in recovering the little nipper if needed. That said we now begin our PFD training program. If you have never seen one before the infant PFD can be a scarry thing. Put it on in the house. Play in it. Try it out in the tub. Make it a game. With Mom and Dad's help he can play with it in the pool or lake.

Lastly, PFDs are not just for "in the boat". I have been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary doing search and rescue missions for over 17 years and I have never heard of a child drowning from falling off of a boat. It may have happened but it is rare. That is because kids are neve unattended while under way.

So when do kids drown? When the boat is at the dock. When the kid is not even on board. On the dock, at the beach, at the campground, at the river or brook, at the pond and in the pool. The statistics are dreadful and real.

Parents please keep your little ones in a PFD any time they are near the water. In the past ten years my wife had run over to the renters next door to grab their kid, with no PFD on, out of the drink. It is not so much that the parents were inattentive, they just let their guard down for a minute of two. That is all it takes.

OK, I'll get off of my soap box. Have fun and be safe!

Misty Blue.

08-23-2006, 05:53 PM	#12
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Kids and boats: Dear dougNH As previously stated I agree that it is just fine to take a child on board as long as you don't step out of the parent's "comfort zone". I'll take this chance to segway to one of my favorite topics. Kids and PFDs. With all of the ballyhoo about boater safety (speed limits, education. PWC and skiing rules etc.) is seems incredible to me that a child who is six years old is not required to wear a PFD when underway in NH! In Mass it is 11 and under. Now some advice on the purchase of your new kiddie PFD. 1. It must be US Coast Guard approved. 2. (This is very important) It must be properly sized for the child. That is, on the lable of the PFD there will be information on chest sizes and weights of the child. It can't be too small and It can't be TOO BIG! When your seven year old takes a ride in Uncle Tony's boat, Uncle Tony's adult PFD just will not do. If the youth goes over the side with a "too big" life jacket (Type3) he will slide down into the jacket and end up with his arms in the air and his face below the water. Yup. This happens. 3. I like putting an infant in a PFD that has a crotch strap to keep the jacket from riding up and a floating collar with a grab strap to assist in recovering the little nipper if needed. That said we now begin our PFD training program. If you have never seen one before the infant PFD can be a scarry thing. Put it on in the house. Play in it. Try it out in the tub. Make it a game. With Mom and Dad's help he can play with it in the pool or lake. Lastly, PFDs are not just for "in the boat". I have been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary doing search and rescue missions for over 17 years and I have never heard of a child drowning from falling off of a boat. It may have happened but it is rare. That is because kids are neve unattended while under way. So when do kids drown? When the boat is at the dock. When the kid is not even on board. On the dock, at the beach, at the campground, at the river or brook, at the pond and in the pool. The statistics are dreadful and real. Parents please keep your little ones in a PFD any time they are near the water. In the past ten years my wife had run over to the renters next door to grab their kid, with no PFD on, out of the drink. It is not so much that the parents were inattentive, they just let their guard down for a minute of two. That is all it takes. OK, I'll get off of my soap box. Have fun and be safe! Misty Blue.