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Life Jackets and PFD's

When you go out kayaking or river rafting, it should go very much without saying that you're in a situation where drowning is not completely out of the question. It's for that very reason that it's important to have a good knowledge of lifejackets & PFDs, as well as river rescue protocol.

One of the most important things for river safety is having a good lifejacket that fits you. You want to make sure it's comfortable and snug. It shouldn't cut off your circulation, but it should be tight enough that it's not going to come loose when the rapid strength of the water comes at you. Lifejackets & PFDs are a mandatory part of what you'll bring with you on every trip, so there's no problem in investing a fair amount of money in this gear.

Lifejackets & PFDs are just one of the security measures that you'll want to take. These “personal floatation devices” serve only a limited purpose when rescuing others. Throw bags allow you to rescue others, even full boats, far more effectively than you would be able to otherwise. Be sure that you use throw bags that you can use effectively, and know your own limits. No matter how solid or effective a throw bag is, if you can't get it to the person who's in trouble, it won't do any good.

Using lifejackets & PFDs in combination with throw bags is a very good idea. In the water, lifejackets & PFDs keep the person in trouble afloat, while off shore they can be used to rope you to a tree or similar to keep you from falling into trouble yourself.