Video: Missouri PFD Carriage Requirements

Rob

Everybody needs to have a life jacket. People know about the importance of that. There’s a lot of different types, though. Fill me in on what we need to know as far as life jackets go.

Officer Inman

Every boat in Missouri has to have a personal flotation device—a life jacket—on board for everybody. It’s important that that life jacket fits that person. It’s based on body weight and chest size, and that can be found on the label inside that life jacket. These wearable life jackets like you have here, that is a non-inflatable life jacket. Those are required for personal watercraft, Jet Skis and WaveRunners, because they don’t rely on inflation. Those are the most reliable, most simple life jackets that one can use. This is an inflatable. This is really good for anglers and people who require more mobility. This takes away the excuses—I don’t wear one because it’s hot, or I don’t wear one because it’s uncomfortable. These are great substitutes for those. But there’s still a time that these are required. Also, every boat has to have a throwable cushion on board if the boat’s over 16 feet in length. This can also be a life ring, but this has to be readily accessible, available to anybody in the boat to be able to grab this and throw this into the water. If someone were to find themselves in the water, this gives them something to hold onto.

Rob

This is pretty simple. A life jacket for everybody on board, plus one of these if you have a bigger boat.

Officer Inman

Plus. And they need to be serviceable, and they need to fit.

Rob

Simple. Thanks.