KIds & Life Jackets
Wanted to get a feel on peoples thoughts on the wearing of PFD's for kids on boats. Seen a number of photos this season with kids joining their fathers on boats getting crays, which is fantastic to see the kids having so much fun. However it concerns me when these photos show the kids without life jackets on. At this stage I will declare that I am one of those those so called safety .......s. BUT also as a parent and grandfather who takes kids out on the water and insists they wear a PFD.
Dept of Transport have recommendations for kids under 10 but I am not sure it should be law it just makes common sense for kids to wear them?
We don't leave them around pools unsuperised.
WE insist they wear seat belts in cars.
WE even make them put sunblock on and wear hats.
Anyway a good time of the year to have a dsicussion??
Tom M
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
When the boats moving put
When the boats moving put them on the kids, when fishing think taking them off is ok as it would take under 30 sec to put it back on.
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Interesting, the old fellow
Interesting, the old fellow at Safety Bay that was rescued hanging onto a bucket the other week said when his boat flipped he didn't have time to do anything, grab a jacket or epirb, said it went over in a second.
Again good to talk about it and get thoughts.
Tom M
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
Boat was moving? or in the
Boat was moving? or in the wrong spot at the wrong time?
Taking kids out on a nice day calm seas, once stopped can not see an issue with taking the PFD off
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Our little on wears it all
Our little on wears it all the time from the end of the jetty on the way out and to the end of the jetty on the way home.
I personally would allow her to take it off when the boat has stopped but the manager of fun and finances wants it on all the time. I won't argue with safety all the time.
Yewiefish85
Posts: 780
Date Joined: 02/01/11
I am guilty of letting my
I am guilty of letting my boys come out in the boat without wearing their lifejackets, only when mum or a mate is with me and I only take one kid ( they take turns coming out), main reason for me is it's too bloody hot here in hedland, I did make my 4 yo wear one the other week when we went chassing mackerel as I knew I would be busy and not able to keep an eagle eye on him
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
For my kids, they werent
For my kids, they werent allowed to come to the islands with me until they were able to jump off the bow and swim to the back, pull the ladder down and get on board alone.
They dont wear lifejackets all the time but do at hazardous times like a rough trip home, through the passage or Hells Gates in a swell etc.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Rob, like your comment, only
Rob, like your comment, only one to date that mentioned their tacker can swim.
Tom M
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
.
they started coming at about 7 or 8 out there to the Abrolhos
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8048
Date Joined: 07/05/12
My oldest (6 years) can swim
My oldest (6 years) can swim and wears his jacket from the car back to the car. We are however going to invest in some lighter vests they can swim in them when we go to Carnac etc
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Whitworths are doing Hutchwilco PFD's at present for $70 each, good price for good PFD's.
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=144&item=18310"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
uncle
Posts: 9350
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Mine allways in jackets when younger
Ever forgive yourself if something happened
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
kirky79
Posts: 1351
Date Joined: 13/01/12
I'm all for jackets
On the kids. I'm a pretty good swimmer. But if I'm going solo, which I do regularly, I'll wear an auto inflate every time. You never know what might happen especially solo.
My boy (8) has his cray license and has been coming out regularly for a few years. His is on before he is at the ramp & off when he gets back to the car. Better safe than sorry.
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Now thats what I like to
Now thats what I like to hear.
Tom M
BlueKiaser
Posts: 422
Date Joined: 22/04/15
Freedom of Choice
It's the modern way isn't it?
When I look at photos of children fishing or boating with their families, I see a beautiful thing ... yet others see a safety risk and want to impose their concerns on to others by suggesting laws and further restrictions to our freedoms.
What is the current problem?
I don't hear of many children aged 10 or less drowning in recreational boating accidents in Australia ... because most parents have the common sense to not take their children out in dangerous boating conditions and when children are on a boat, I hope they are properly supervised.
Where does this Nanny state end? The initial post refers to how we don't leave children around pools unsupervised ... fine, but it's not law for them to wear PFD's in the pool, walking on a jetty or in the bath either. And before you respond that I'm being rediculous ... do some research ... more children drown in bath tubs each year than in accidental recreational boating drownings.
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Agree entirely and please
Agree entirely and please don't think I am trying to impose anything but common sense. All things need to be considered, safe boat safe conditoins and responsible parents. Really appreciate the discussions on this subject.
Tom M
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
not for me or my kids.
not for me or my kids. Its got me beat why someone would jump on a boat not knowing how to swim and relying on a life jacket. id laugh if someone rocked up to the boat ramp with a life jacket....though I would make an exception to the rule for reece. (just saw you on the mad huey)
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8048
Date Joined: 07/05/12
What's swimming got to do
What's swimming got to do with anything once you are out of swimming range on dry land?
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
So you can swim to the life
Just my opinion
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
Unconscious people can't
Unconscious people can't swim. Theres my two cents worth.
DM306
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
It is always going to be a
It is always going to be a calculated risk of course no matter what anyone says or preaches, and there is only so much anyone can do.
Then it is up to the judgement of the "responsible adult", who likely also made the decision to let him ride a skateboard, trampoline, climb a tree and even just bring him into the world in the first place...
But out of curiousity who wears one all the time there is a risk of falling in the water unconscious?
Which is also walking down the jetty when no one is around?
You wont be able to help your kids if you are unconscious either?
Nor if you become unconscious onboard for any reason and your kid isnt old enough to call for help and/or drive the boat home.
Which is something that concerned me quite a few years back so as soon as Cam and Mac could see over the wheel we did a few drills of turning the boat around and pulling up alongside.
Also somewhere here is pics of Cam driving 32 miles home on a sloppy day when the plotter shit itself, by the compass.
The zigs and zags got smaller over about 15 mins like anyone steering by compass first time.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8048
Date Joined: 07/05/12
I even make my kids wear
I even make my kids wear their jackets while fishing off jetties with my oldest having of of those ski vests. As a former lifesaver and pool lifeguard I've pulled enough kids off the bottom of the water in my lifetime without pulling my own out as well. Belive me when I say you can be watching them and it still goes south very quickly and you then also have to be mindful of the the other kids while you are rescuing the first one.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Not sure how old yours are,
Not sure how old yours are, but its worth testing them out jumping in and swimming with or without buoyancy.
Of course its blurred also if they are in a cabin travelling or sleeping aboard.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8048
Date Joined: 07/05/12
If we're anchored up in
If we're anchored up in standing depth water around Carnac etc my oldest (7 in Feb) will jump down to me in the water and swim back and climb up the ladder without a vest. Guess I've just contradicted myself
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
Life jackets
i have been involved with a local sea rescue group for the past four years , 70 % of the rescues we have done are swamped , overturned boats where the skipper didnt see it coming and half of them struggle with the situation of being in the water and trying to sort themselves out and their mates , put kids in this scenario and you want to ensure their looked after , buy easy fitting and comforatble lift life jackets that they will wear all day , whether their fishing or just watching dad pull pots , shit happens real quick and the last thing you have in control is where your kids end up in a boat roll over or bungs left out and a sinking boat , so my recomendation is ensure they are wearing and have good life jackets , IMO
avatinni
Posts: 141
Date Joined: 06/06/10
My son is 10 year old and I
My son is 10 year old and I make him wear he's inflatable life jacket when in the ocean. As said before things can go wrong in the blink of eye.
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Been an interesting
Been an interesting conversation.
As one member stated you are the parent and will live with your decsisiions..... have a safe and wonderful Cristmas and New Year with your families and friends and see you out and about.
Tom M