Life Jacket Selection
LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES
Lifejackets are the proven number one way to safe life in the event of sudden, unexpected
capsizing or fall overboard.
“There are no excuses not to wear a life jacket onboard”
Fit Facts
Certain life jackets are designed to keep your head above water and help you remain in a position
which permits proper breathing.
Adult-sized life jackets will not work for children. To work correctly, a life jacket must be worn, fit
snugly, and not allow the child’s chin or ears to slip through.
It is extremely important that you choose a properly fitting life jacket. Jackets that are too big will
cause the flotation device to push up around your face, which could be dangerous. Jackets that are
too small will not be able to keep your body afloat.
Make sure the jacket is properly zipped or buckled.
Raise your arms straight up over your head while wearing your life jacket and ask a friend to grasp
the tops of the arm openings, gently pulling up.
If there is excess room above the openings and the jacket rides up over your chin or face, it does
NOT fit properly. A snug fit in these areas signals a properly fitting life jacket.
Be sure it’s right for you, your planned activities and the water conditions you expect to encounter.
“The best life jacket is the one you wear”
Life Jacket Selection
Within the context cited above, the selection of an appropriate life jacket generally depends on the
weight of the person who will wear it, floatation material/method preferred, usage area (offshore,
near shore, sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing and etc.).
In general a person weighs 10% of his weight on earth while submerged in water at the level of his
chin. On earth, a mass of 1 kg enforces nearly 9.8 N to the object which is under it.
For example; the body of a person who weighs 100 kg consists of 80% water, 10% fat and etc., so
only the rest 10% means weight in water. Therefore that person needs a life jacket which can float
10 kgs in water.
weight of the person who will wear it, floatation material/method preferred, usage area (offshore,
near shore, sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing and etc.).
In general a person weighs 10% of his weight on earth while submerged in water at the level of his
chin. On earth, a mass of 1 kg enforces nearly 9.8 N to the object which is under it.
For example; the body of a person who weighs 100 kg consists of 80% water, 10% fat and etc., so
only the rest 10% means weight in water. Therefore that person needs a life jacket which can float
10 kgs in water.
Minimum Floatation Forces (N) Required for an Average Adult
Accessibility
Life jackets must be properly stowed.
Life jackets must be in good and serviceable condition.
You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.)
They should not to be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them.
Throwable devices must be immediately available for use.
© 2025 Turkish Coast Guard Command