A properly fitted life

It is essential that everyone wear a life-jacket or personal flotation device (PFD), regardless of their swimming ability, when boating.

A life-jacket can save your life when you're on the water, but wearing it improperly or having the wrong size on can lead to disaster.

According to a 2021 Allstate Canada survey, 81 per cent of boating-related deaths were attributed to people not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), and an additional five per cent were not wearing one properly.

For children, it's key to select the appropriate weight. For adults, you will need to pick the correct chest size, according to the Ontario chapter of The Lifesaving Society. The device will also need to be Transport Canada- or Canadian Coast Guard-approved.

Watch the video above for more tips on selecting the appropriate life-jacket.

With files from Nathan Howes, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.

Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images -176849836.