State law requires life jackets on every watercraft, whether it’s a motorized boat, jet ski, kayak, canoe, or even a paddleboard. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 84 percent of drowning victims who died from a boating accident were not wearing their life jackets. The best way to be “saved by the jacket” is to wear it at all times, no matter your level of swimming or boating expertise.
For more information about safe boating practices visit the National Safe Boating Campaign.
The Boating Education program is committed to providing Iowans with important resources and messages that save lives.