Lifejackets & PFDs

Remember to wear your lifejacket! Up to 90% of boating-related deaths in the past 10 years had one thing in common: the victim was not wearing a properly fitted Personal Floatation Device (PFD), or lifejacket. This number one cause of boating fatalities is easy to prevent.

It is strongly recommended that a lifejacket or a PFD be worn at all times while on a vessel to prevent drowning, or at a minimum at least while underway. If a flotation device is not worn, it must be readily accessible.

REMEMBER: There must be at least one approved PFD or lifejacket for each person on board a vessel.

All boat operators must ensure that there are properly fitted lifejackets or PFDs on board for all passengers. Passengers must be informed of the location of the PFDs and instructed on how to put on the PFD properly. In the case of an emergency, all passengers must wear a PFD.

Flotation devices in Canada are categorized into three different types:

Lifejackets;
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs); and
Inflatable lifejackets.

Lifejackets & PFDs

Study Guide