Life Jackets for Kids

[Mayfly]

I am curious as to what everyones policy is for life jackets and kids in the boat. For those of you that fish with your kids or others kids.

[The General]

My kids (Ages 3 and 5) wear life jackets at all times while in the boat.  No exceptions!

[BiggA]

My kids wear their life jackets always when in the boat. They are 8 n 10 so maybe i am overprotective but i would rather be safe than sorry.

[Outdoors Junkie]

I agree 100%.  My kids wear theirs too.  Their ages are 14, 11, 7, & 5.

My kids wear their life jackets always when in the boat. They are 8 n 10 so maybe i am overprotective but i would rather be safe than sorry.

[deadeye]

Here is the DNR take on it.  Looks like there is no real choice here.

"A legal measure that went into effect in 2005, requires children under age ten to wear a life jacket while boating in Minnesota.

Summary
Requires life jacket to be worn by children less than 10 years of age when aboard watercraft in Minnesota when the craft is under way (not tied up at a dock or permanent mooring)."

[sandmannd]

Anyone under 16 in my boat wears a life jacket. If you don't want to then you don't go out. Pretty plain and simple on that.

I have a 13 year old and doesn't even ask if she can take it off.

[Go Big Red!]

Everyone wears a life jacket regardless of age.  No jacket, keep your  on the dock....

[BiggA]

Here is the DNR take on it.  Looks like there is no real choice here.

"A legal measure that went into effect in 2005, requires children under age ten to wear a life jacket while boating in Minnesota.

Summary
Requires life jacket to be worn by children less than 10 years of age when aboard watercraft in Minnesota when the craft is under way (not tied up at a dock or permanent mooring)."

I may be wrong but I thought I heard this law changed or a new law came out that stated kids under 12 must wear a life jacket at all times when on the water.

[DDSBYDAY]

I saw this on the news today.  Thing can get bad very quickly.

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- James Braaten loves his summer hideaway on Lake Holcombe. Reluctant to leave last Sunday, he took his two little girls and nearly 2-year-old nephew on one last boat ride.

Just a couple hours later, he found himself on a helicopter, being airlifted to Luther Midelfort Hospital in Eau Claire. 

"The prop just came in and my whole thigh is mutilated," Braaten recalled, "kind of looked like a shark bite, it was just gone."

This, Braaten will tell you, is the best case scenario after a terrifying turn of events last weekend. Braaten was piloting his boat through a no wake zone when nephew Oliver, just shy of his second birthday, fell over the bow. The boy was wearing his life vest but fell face down in the water. Braaten tried to grab him with the boat still underway, but ended up in the lake himself.

With her dad in the water, 5-year-old Rylee grabbed for the boat's controls. She was trying to get the boat into neutral but instead shifted it into reverse.  The boat began to circle back towards Braaten who was still trying to hang on to his nephew.

"I just didn't know how long it would take so I know I had to let go, " Braaten said, "So I saw the boat coming and I kicked him to the side and shoved him out of the way of the boat and then I braced myself and that's when the engine came and got my leg."

Five-year-old Rylee and her 3-year-old sister Carly were still in the boat which was still circling in reverse. "This is where Rylee is the hero, I looked up at her and said turn off the key and she did," Braaten recalled.

At that point, he saw help arrive. "I saw the pontoon boat then come and I told them to get the boy, who I did see was floating just great." 

Once ashore Braaten realized the kids were fine, but his right thigh was not. The propeller had cut it wide open, and he could see down to the bone. Thankfully the prop did not hit a major nerve, and he can still feel his toes. Doctors are rebuilding his thigh and Braaten hopes to walk again in the coming months

[sandmannd]

I saw that on the news. Good call that his daughter shut down the boat. Glad to hear they all made it and hope his leg recovers.

[BiggA]

Something similiar happened to my old boss. Ran himself over when he fell out the boat. Both good lessons for using that strap that pulls the key out the ignition if you fall overboard.