I wear a life jacket when

[Bud]

I have been a menber of the local rescue squad for several years and I have nevery recovery a body with a PFD on.

[BucketmouthAngler13]

Question.

If you are wearing one of those inflateble life jacket thingys, (the ones that you pull a cord to inflate) And you fall, hit your head, become unconscience, and cant inflate you life jacket, then you drown right?

Most people that drown, die because they hit their head and become unconscience. If you hit your head before you pull the cord, then it wouldn't help anything, would it?

so wouldn't the normal life jackets be safer?

[Fish Chris]

actually, I don't believe that most people who drown are ever knocked out. That was just one possible scenario that I gave. Maybe Bud can back me up on this, but I believe that most people who drown, do so because either they end up in the water, farther from the shore, than the distance they are able to swim...... and / or because of even a moderate current..... and / or because of cold water, and / or because of an injury, which although might not have left them unconscious, still might have left them unable to swim, like broken limbs, etc.

So anyway, to answer your question, some of the better "auto-inflating PFD's" are actually that. They will inflate either because of becoming saturated, or better yet, from water pressure by being submerged more than a few inches under water, like when you first fall in.

Peace,

Fish

PS, Bud, your post is about as straight forward, and simple as it gets ! I can't imagine how somebody could read that, and just right it off as not important to recognize.

[Pa Angler]

I wear one at all times when I'm fishing by myself and when I'm not it just makes good sense to protect yourself in any emergency thet may befall you. I also use the shutoff lanyard cord as well.

Chow

[mudcatwilly]

I wear it when the water's rough and I'm high speed or whenever the water temp is below 60.  I am a strong swimmer, but you never know.  If you fall out and hit your head or God forbid, the spinning prop, it doesn't matter how well you can swim.

[madddogg]

I was recently ejected from my boat. I can't begin to tell you how fast it happened. I was wearing my pfd as was my passenger. I will be wearing my at all times from now on. Make sure you use all the buckles and straps on the vest. I only had one buckled and I came partly out of the vest when I hit the water. Water temp was 58 and was very lucky there was another boater nearby. You maybe a big strong person but the weight of clothes and water temp will suck the energy out of you very quickly.

Find a vest you like and wear it all the time. Consider it peice of mind for your loved ones if not yourself.

[Bankbeater]

I hardly ever wear one mainly because the lakes I fish are so shallow I could walk out of them.

[texasbass1]

I'm an excellent swimmer and wouldn't think of running my boat over an idle without a PFD. You don't have to hit your head to go under. Jeans, shirt and shoes will soak up enough water to drag you down.