LJ 6 Establish National Minimum Testing Standards for Flotation Devices

Evidence:

A report by Gilchrest and Parker (2014) provides evidence that drowning in natural water increases among teens and young adults. Alcohol use, increased independence, with resulting reduced supervision might play a role. Basic swimming skills might reduce risk. AI/AN children, teenagers, and young adults might be at higher risk because of greater exposure to natural bodies of water. Additionally, death certificates do not include details on known risk and protective factors such as the victim’s activities and swimming skill, body of water, weather conditions, health conditions, use of life jackets, fences, supervision, alcohol use and CPR. Of note, 25% are other or unspecified.

In a report on the epidemiology and prevention of drowning, Quan and Gilchrist (2020) report;

• Life jackets in pools or natural bodies of water provide an extra layer of protection.
• Many people swimming and playing in water do use some kind of flotation.
• Policies vary as to whether life jackets are allowed in shallow or deep ends of pools or designated swim areas.
• Many swim programs e.g. Red Cross include life jacket use as part of swim instruction.
• Christian’s Law focuses on life jacket use in camps
• Accepted and routine use of life jackets outside of boating environment is needed. Can build on the existing popularity of different types of flotation while swimming and wading.
• Life jackets and other types of flotation remain technologies that are underdeveloped, under-promoted and under-utilized.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide (2018), while overall drownings have decreased by 28 percent, open water drownings have only decreased by 13 percent. 62 percent of drownings in natural water occurred in the presence of an adult (where data was available). As children age, their risk of open water drowning increases. Child death review (CDR) data indicates 10% of 10-17 year olds had used drugs or alcohol right before their death. Most were playing or swimming in natural water. Children under 5 most likely to drown after a fall into water making supervision and use of PFDs important. PFDs are also referenced for 15–19 year olds. Largest proportion are from urban areas. However rural children represent 27% of fatal open water drownings but only 15% of the population. Increased risk in rural areas may have to do with access. Based on CDR most are in lakes, rivers, ponds. Very few (4%) in the ocean. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that at a minimum, children 13 years and under should be required to be in an approved PFD. States with PFD laws applying to older kids have overall higher wear rates. They also recommend PFD loaner programs at boat ramps and swim beaches. They recommend PFDs for weak and non-swimmers when around water.

Moran and authors (2005) state “Life jackets, also called personal flotation devices or PFDs, save lives. Life jackets can be used for swimming, wading and other water activities. Life jackets help you to be seen, making it easier to find and rescue you. Approved life jackets have been shown to be effective in reducing drowning deaths associated with boating activities (Cummings, Mueller, & Quan, in press; United States Coast Guard, 2003 ). Life jacket use has been promoted for children or weak swimmers recreating in and/or near water. Community based campaigns have led to the availability of life jacket loaner stations, which have been reported to saves lives (Bennett & Bernthal, 2001). No study to date has been conducted on the efficacy of life jacket use for nonboating activities such as wading or swimming. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of life jacket use in aquatic recreational activity such as while swimming or playing in the water (Quan, Liller, & Bennett, 2006).

American Red Cross

The Aquatic Sub council chose to focus on an expanded set of indications for life jacket use because their use holds promise for decreasing the risk of drowning among those near water.

Vietnam, Alaska, and Washington State (U.S.) have promoted this intervention among children, while both Australia and New Zealand have focused on rock fishermen. An intervention by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers required life jacket wear among those not only on the water, but also by or swimming in their waters and led to a marked decrease in drowning deaths (Mangione & Chow, 2014). Wearing of life jackets by children less than 5 years of age also has been shown to decrease the risk of drowning death when playing by or near water (Yang, Nong, Li, Feng & Lo, 2007).