Can U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life jackets be worn to meet this requirement?
Life jackets must be worn in accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard approval label. If the inflatable life jacket is worn within its U.S. Coast Guard approval then the answer would be yes, it does meet the requirement. It is worth pointing out that some inflatable life jackets have a statement on the U.S. Coast Guard label that reads “DO NOT USE BELOW FREEZING”. The warning refers to the air temperature. Inflatable life jackets get their buoyancy from the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas (CO2) inside the life jacket’s bladder. As the temperature decreases, so does the CO2 pressure. Less CO2 pressure inside the life jacket’s bladder means less buoyancy. So if you are going to be out on a boat when the air temperature is below freezing (32 degrees F), then you should wear an inherently buoyant foam-filled life jacket that is U.S. Coast Guard approved.
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Mike