Lifejackets need to be worn to work

"It happened so quickly. One minute you're having the most fun of your life, the next minute you're struggling for your life".

That was Dave Kimpinski's comment after nearly drowning in a boating accident. Dave and his young son, Curtis, were pulling Dave's niece Amanda on an inflatable tube in their small outboard powered boat.

Suddenly Dave saw the large wake from another boat right in front of them. He leaned across to prevent his son Curtis from falling in but instead went overboard himself.

Dave wasn't wearing a lifejacket. His boat started to make lazy circles while Curtis cried out for his dad.

Amanda saw her uncle struggling to stay afloat and began to swim after him.

Fortunately, Amanda was prepared for the water and was wearing a lifejacket. She reached her uncle and Dave grabbed on to her.

Curtis, meanwhile, pulled the safety lanyard on the motor just like he'd seen his dad do and the boat stopped moving.

Amanda and Dave were able to get back to their boat and climb aboard.

Dave was lucky; lucky that Amanda was wearing a lifejacket and able to help him. He was also lucky that his little boy managed to stop their boat.

Dave Kimpinski will tell you today that he is a much wiser boater.

Materials used in the construction of today's floatation devices are lighter, stronger and more comfortable to wear. And the new, approved inflatable personal flotation devices lie flat around your shoulders like a collar.

Many times boaters will proudly tell boating safety officials that they always have their lifejackets on board their boats, just like the law demands.

The CSBC applauds this but reminds those boaters that a lifejacket isn't intended to save the life of the boat. It's meant to save the life of the human being on the boat!

So, if you fall in the water without your lifejacket on your body, that fine sense of pride in having lifejackets on board won't help keep you floating. And in the case of an inflatable PFD, the law requires it be worn while on board.

Not long ago, the CSBC conducted an experiment. The Council selected roughly half a dozen volunteers, both young and old and asked them to jump into a swimming pool and, once in the water, attempt to get into a lifejacket.

All the participants said afterwards how difficult it was to perform that seemingly simple task. Few of them managed to select lifejackets that were the right size when they were in the pool.

And if it was tough for volunteers in a swimming pool, imagine how difficult it would be in a real-life situation in a lake, river or ocean with individuals overcome by panic and fear.

Make the smart choice. WEAR IT! And don't forget to get a PFD for your infant. They're available for children in the 9-25 lb range. You can also purchase a PFD for your pet.

For more information on safe and responsible boating practices visit Canada's educational boating website www.smartboater.ca