Does your lifejacket fit? Know what to do if you fall in the water?

Labour Weekend heralds the start of the Otago Regional Council’s summer safety campaign,led by the Harbourmaster team, who patrol coastal Otago and Central Otago lakes.

This year the focus is on wearing a properly fitting lifejacket, and, making sure that if you fall off your boat, or paddleboard, you’d know what to do to keep yourself safe.

Otago Regional Council Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook says, “Heading out on the water this summer? You need to know your lifejacket works before you leave the land. The only way to know is to check it regularly.”

Too loose? You may as well not be wearing one. Check children’s lifejackets are correctly sized.

Kapok lifejackets (pictured below) are unsafe: check, destroy, replace. Used to fill lifejackets 30 years ago, we now know kapok can absorb water and cause wearers to sink.

Cotton straps rot over time: even if a lifejacket is not used. In an emergency, cotton straps can tear or break off.

Mr Rushbrook says lifejackets with either kapok filling or cotton straps should be destroyed and new ones purchased.

Replacing lifejackets Coastguard’s highly successful Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade will be back this year from December 1, visiting communities throughout the country. Simply bring your old, damaged out-of-date lifejackets in and receive a great discount on brand-new Hutchwilco lifejackets.

Checks for all types of lifejackets

• Pull the straps, hard. If any stretch or tear do not use lifejacket, destroy and replace
• Look for cuts or tears in the straps. If there are any, do not use, destroy and replace
• Check for tears, cuts or punctures in the lifejacket. If there are any, do not use the lifejacket, destroy and replace
• Check it floats

If you do fall in the water

Stay calm, conserve energy, and attract attention: wave, whistle, shout, or phone.

Mr Rushbrook says, “We want everyone to enjoy their summer recreation this year and get home safely. To make sure this happens, always follow the 5 rules of the boating safety code.”

• Wear your life jacket
• Take two waterproof ways to call for help
• Check the marine weather forecast
• Avoid alcohol
• Be a responsible skipper

You can find a range of resources on the Otago Regional Council web site covering everything from crossing a bar safely to preventing the spread of aquatic pests.

Link to summer safety webpage: orc.govt.nz/summersafety

About our role

The Otago Regional Council regulates ports, harbours, waters, and maritime-related activities in Otago under the Maritime Transport Act (1994). We cover the Otago region, apart from the Queenstown Lakes District which has its own Harbourmaster under the district council.

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