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Taking some time to make sure you have the right life jacket can make the difference between life and death.

According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third-leading cause of accidental death worldwide. In Iowa, every child under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while on any boat, canoe, kayak and paddleboard at all times. Perry Aquatic Center Director Kami Kirchner says it’s also important to make sure the life jacket is safe before heading to the water, “It’s important for us to have life jackets that fit well. There are weights that are listed on the inside of the lifejackets. So just look at those weight sizes and make sure it’s correctly rated for the person wearing it. Then just make sure you’re wearing it. If you’re not comfortable in the water, you’re not comfortable swimming, then wear a life jacket. The most importantly, make sure it’s a Coast Guard approved life jacket.”

For adults, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends once you have your life jacket on and zipped or buckled up, have somebody else pull up on the shoulders of the life jacket, and if the jacket comes over your nose, it’s not safe. You can hear more about water safety during Tuesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Kirchner.