Useless unless you wear it: lifejacket safety in Iowa

Iowa DNR reminds boaters that lifejackets are required on all vessels

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

Warm weather calls for water recreation. In the excitement to get out on the water, occasionally simple rules are forgotten. Ignoring these simple rules can lead to devastating accidents. The first four water related deaths in Iowa occurred around this time last year, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Officer Eric Johnston said.

“The only golden rule that covers all vessels: Every person has to have a wearable life jacket,” Johnston said.

Three of the four who perished did not have lifejackets and drowned.

When it comes to water recreation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has an entire pamphlet dedicated to dos and don’ts. Rules vary depending on the size of the watercraft, whether or not there is a motor and the differing class of vessels. However, a lifejacket is required on all vessels.

“(People) get those tiny vessels from (area hardware stores) and think they they are a toy,” Johnston said.

The smaller, cheaper, hardware-store kayaks do not have to follow very many rules or regulations, however, they must comply with the overreaching golden rule.

“The only thing you have to have is a life vest,” Johnston said.

Last year, Johnston and his fellow officers noticed an alarmingly high rate of kayakers who did not have a lifejacket on board. So common was it to see kayakers without a lifejacket, Johnston began to assume the reason because of ignorance, not willful negligence.

Johnston explained the type of lifejackets that must be on board every vessel.

“It has to be a class one, two or three,” he said. “The class one is the horse collar like on  a cruise ship. Class two is the horse collar like at camp — the orange ones. Class three is the vest that you see skiers wear.”

These are the only three life jackets the U.S. Coast Guard approves. Although they all meet regulation standards, they are not all created equal.

“Class three is the worst one,” Johnston said. “But the best one is one people will wear.”

The first two class types are designed to most effectively keep a person’s head upright out of the water, Johnston explained. Class three, though better than nothing, does not guarantee that a person’s head will be kept out of the water.   

Merely having the lifejacket in the boat is not enough.

“It has to fit — be a proper size for the wearer — be in good condition and has to be readily accessible,” Johnston said.

To be caught boating without a lifejacket can become a costly mistake.

“It’s a $20 fine, plus court costs, so $87 per life jacket missing,” Johnston said. “So if you have six people in the boat and no one has it, you could rack up a pretty good bill.”

When venturing out onto the river this year, don’t leave the ramp, dock or pier unless everyone is equipped with a lifejacket.