Flotation devices are compulsory

Everyone in recreational craft under 8 m must wear flotation devices when the boat is moving. The skipper of the boat is responsible for ensuring that children under the age of 16 are wearing a suitable flotation device.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority has more information on the requirements applicable to the use of flotation devices in recreational craft.

Choosing life vests for children

There are many types of vest – life vests, life vests with collars and inflatable vests. For young children and non-swimmers, the most suitable type is a life vest with collar. Life vests contain flotation elements that lift the entire upper body towards the surface, and a collar that helps keep the head above water.

Young children should not wear life vests, either traditional or inflatable. Life vests rarely support the head as well as life vests, and thereby hold the person in a more upright position in the water. This is more suitable for people who can swim.

Find the right size

Take the child with you when you go to buy or hire the life vest, to make sure you choose the right weight category and fit. If the life vest is too big, there's a risk that the flotation properties will not work the way they're supposed to. In the worst case, the child could slip out of the jacket. You should also be aware that if the child is wearing nappies, this can affect the flotation properties of the jacket. It's advisable to use swim nappies that don't get as heavy as ordinary nappies when they get wet.

Check the label

Flotation devices must bear the CE mark. This is your guarantee that the manufacturer complied with all the relevant safety requirements when it produced the jacket. There must also be a label on the life vest showing how many kilos it is designed for.

Practise in the water

Let the child practise floating, preferably while wearing clothes, to accustom them to how the life vest works. Be aware that it will not be possible for the life vest to turn a child over from stomach to back in shallow water.

Hiring life vests

Many of the fire stations in Norway have life vests for hire.

Check the properties

Old life vests do not go out of date, but their flotation properties can deteriorate over time. You should therefore test out the vest in controlled conditions, and replace it if necessary. Newer life vests also tend to have a better fit than old ones. Whether or not an old life vest is still usable depends on how it has been stored and maintained.

Store the jacket correctly

Life vests must have clear markings showing how they should be handled and maintained. Generally, flotation devices must be hung up, in a dry and well ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. If you keep life vests on your boat during the boating season, make sure they don't come into contact with petrol and oil spills.