PFD Checklist
Make a Wise Choice…Wear It!
Is your PFD or lifejacket the right choice?
Take this checklist with you to the pool or waterfront and test your Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or your lifejacket.
- Is it Canadian-approved?
- Will it support the person it was made for?
- Are all the snaps, belts, ties, tapes and/or zippers on your lifejacket or PFD in good condition?
- Is it easy to put on and take off?
- Can you move your arms freely when wearing it?
- Does it let you bend at the waist?
- Can you see the ground at your feet and walk over obstacles easily?
- Does it keep your head above water?
- Relax in the water face down. Does your lifejacket roll you to a face-up position?
- Can you swim and manoeuvre easily in the water?
- Have you attached a whistle to your flotation device?
What is the difference between a PFD and a lifejacket?
Personal Flotation Device
- A PFD is less bulky and less buoyant than a lifejacket.
- A PFD may not roll a person into a position where their head is out of the water.
- A PFD is preferred for active sports such as canoeing or fishing because it allows for greater movement.
- Canadian-approved PFDs are available in a variety of colours.
Lifejacket
- A lifejacket will hold the wearer in an upright position and, in most cases, roll a person from the face-down to the face-up position.
- Canadian-approved lifejackets must be red, orange or yellow.
For more information, contact water safety.
