Ask a conservation officer

[Lee Borgersen]

        Ask a conservation officer:

              Is it time for a new life jacket?
Mar 27, 2016
 
Q: Do PFDs/life jackets expire? How do I know when do I need a new life jacket?

A: This is a great time to be inspecting and preparing all of your equipment for the open-water boating season, especially required safety equipment.
  ...
When choosing a PFD/life jacket, it is required that the PFD must be of the appropriate size for the wearer, and must be U.S. Coast Guard approved. Look on the inside of most commercially available PFDs at your local retailer, and you will find the U.S. Coast Guard label that includes the approval number and information on size and intended use. If a life jacket leaks, is waterlogged, misshapen, or damaged (including straps and fasteners), you must obtain a new one to meet the requirements on the water.

Remember, all children under 10 years of age must wear a life jacket when on a watercraft. PFDs only help you if they are on your body when you need them. Wear them.

Matthew S. Miller is a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer with the Lake Superior Marine Unit.