BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Mom's Viral Life Jacket Video Reminds Parents to Test Vests First

A very important warning just in time for those late-summer plans.
save article
profile picture of Ashley Edwards Walker
By Ashley Edwards Walker, Contributing Writer
Published August 20, 2018
toddler boating on the open water and wearing a life vest
Image: iStock

In the now-viral video that Wisconsin mom Cori Pierson recently shared to Facebook, her husband can be seen tossing their 2-year-old son into the water. Wearing a life jacket, the toddler lands on his back, floats—and then slowly turns until he’s face down in the water. Clearly, his life vest isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do.

“It was shocking and just scary, just to watch it flip my son,” Pierson told her local news station KARE 11 after the video caught their attention. It has since been viewed roughly 57,000 times.

The parents were doing the responsible thing, testing their son’s life vest before boarding a fishing boat. And they were horrified to discover that, although the device technically kept their son afloat, it put him in a dangerous position.

At first Pierson assumed there was a manufacturing issue with the vest they’d purchased. She’d done her research and chose vests for her toddler son and 5-year-old daughter that were recommended by the Coast Guard. She also made sure they were fitted appropriately for their weight and took care to securely fasten them before testing. But when she looked into it after the failed test, she realized there was a lot of information she’d overlooked.

“It wasn’t necessarily the vest itself,” Pierson told the station of what she learned. “It was the weight distribution.”

Pierson had visited the US Coast Guard’s website and gone back and read the materials that had been attached to the vest when she purchased it. In both places there was a warning cautioning that even if you buy the correct size, some vests may not work as intended, depending on the body type of the child who’s wearing it.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Test it with the infant or child who will be wearing the PFD [Personal Flotation Device],” the Coast Guard website states. “Just because it works for one infant or child does not mean it will work for another in the same manner. Check for proper weight range, comfortable fit, and especially a stable face-up position in water.”

Case in point: Pierson had bought the same vest for her five-year-old daughter, just one size bigger, and it worked perfectly for her.

Luckily, Pierson had time to buy a different vest for their son, one that kept him afloat and face up when he hit the water. She decided to share the video on social media to flag the issue for other parents who might have missed the information themselves.

Earlier this summer, a concerned grandfather shared a similar video. He too thought he was using a safety-tested, approved life jacket when he brought his 2-year-old granddaughter into the pool. But within a couple seconds she’d flipped over face-down in the water. Viewers of the video quickly pointed out that his granddaughter was actually wearing a buoyancy vest, which is intended to be a swimming aid for more experienced swimmers rather than protection against drowning. Life jackets are what inexperienced swimmers (and the parents of inexperienced swimmers) want; they’re designed to keep a person afloat without needing to swim.

If you are buying a life jacket, the Coast Guard advises choosing one that fits snugly. To test this, their website recommends picking your child up by the shoulders of the vest. “If the PFD fits right, the child’s chin and ears will not slip through.” And if Pierson’s message resonates with you, test it in the water to ensure the jacket will keep your child face up.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

young child holding gummies
Study Finds 420% Uptick in Child ER Visits Due to Melatonin Poisoning
By Wyndi Kappes
jool baby nova infant swing recall 2024
Why Jool Baby Is Recalling Its Nova Baby Swings
By Wyndi Kappes
happy mom holding baby during winter in the snow
11 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Baby
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
lovevery slide and seek ball runs recall
Lovevery Recalls 47,000 Slide & Seek Ball Runs Due to Choking Hazard
By Wyndi Kappes
laundry detergent pods poison risk for children
Detergent Pods Remain Significant Threat to Kids, Study Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
Baby Walkers-hero
Are Baby Walkers Safe? Here’s the Deal
By Christin Perry
toddler climbing up stairs in home
8 Baby Safety Myths Busted by Pediatricians
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
toddler opening christmas gifts on christmas morning
Doctor's Viral Video Reveals Top 5 Gifts That Land Kids in the ER
By Wyndi Kappes
Bugaboo Dragonfly Seat Strollers recall
Bugaboo Recalls Dragonfly Seat Strollers Due to Injury Risk
By Wyndi Kappes
mother kissing baby's face while sitting on grass outside
When Can Newborns Go Outside?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby wearing a santa hat playing with christmas tree ornaments
14 Need-to-Know Holiday Safety Tips
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
family opening christmas presents
This Toy Was Responsible for the Most ER Visits Last Year
By Wyndi Kappes
father buckling baby into car seat in the car
Can You Uber With Baby? What to Know When Ridesharing With Little Ones
Fact Checked by Denise Porretto
ADVERTISEMENT
little sleepies loveys and bandana recall 2023
Little Sleepies Recalls 450,000 Sleepyhead Loveys and Bandana Bibs
By Wyndi Kappes
Best Kids Sunglasses Hero
14 Kids’ Sunglasses They’ll Wear Everywhere This Summer
By Megan Cahn
chuckle and roar water bead activity kits recall 2023
Popular Water Bead Activity Kit Sold at Target Has Been Recalled
By Wyndi Kappes
mother and baby crawling on floor at home
It’s Baby Safety Month: Here Are All the Sales You Don’t Wanna Miss
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
dad strapping baby into rocker
CPSC Members Propose New Safety Rules for Baby Rockers After Deaths
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of button batteries
CPSC Enacts New Safety Standards to Protect Kids From Button Batteries
By Wyndi Kappes
tomy Boon Flair and Flair Elite Highchairs recall 2023
TOMY Recalls Over 80,000 of Its Popular Highchairs
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.