Lifejackets & Puddle Jumpers

Lifejackets and puddle jumpers must be Coast Guard approved. Our friendly staff will check your device to make sure it is approved for the facility. Please call us if you have a question if your device is Coast Guard approved. Parents/Guardians must be within arms reach of a child in a lifejacket/puddle jumper.

It is well recognized that even children who are comfortable and experienced using a lifejacket can become a victim to drowning/near drowning in lifeguarded facilities. Assuming the lifejacket is fitted and worn properly it can still be a danger. This is because a lifejacket can and often will raise the feet of a person off of the floor of the pool as it takes over and begins the floatation of the person. When this occurs the lifejacket can either flip the person onto their back or onto their face. It is more common for it to flip them forward than backwards. If a child does not have the skill needed to flip themselves over onto their back it is difficult for them to even lift their face out of the water. It is recommended that lifejackets be used as one layer of protection but that they should not replace the touch supervision of a child under the age of 5. The leading cause of death in the United States for ages 1-4 is drowning.

We do not allow arm floaties as they are not a Coast Guard approved floatation device.