With summer vacations and water sports under way, there is nothing like getting together with family and friends for a day of picnicking and boating fun.

Cruising in a powerboat, water skiing and running some white water in a canoe, kayak or raft are among the favorite water activities. The theme of National Safe Boating Week this year emphasizes the importance of life jackets with a simple theme of just "Wear It."

Life jackets can be the determining factor between life and death in many boating accidents. Each year, an average of 700 people die in boating-related accidents nationwide, and eight out of every 10 victims were not wearing life jackets.

The national numbers are about the same in Pennsylvania. In 2006, 25 boaters died and only four of them were wearing a life jacket at the time.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission estimates that at least 80 percent of the 132 recreational boating fatalities in the state during 1997-2006 would have survived the accident had they been wearing a life jacket.

A life jacket primer for boaters is a good way to start the season. There are many types of personal flotation devices, or PFD's, to choose from. The types of jackets that most boaters need to be aware of are Type II and Type IV.

The type II jacket is meant to be worn and is designed to turn an unconscious person face up.

The Type IV throwable device is designed to be grasped, not worn. Boats 16 feet and longer are required to carry a Type IV on board.

Remember, a throwable device can't be used in place of a wearable onee. All boats must have an Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.

Here are a few simple rules:

• All life jackets must be in serviceable condition and legally marked showing the USCG approval number. This means that the PFD must be functional, free of tears or defects in the material, and all buckles, straps and zippers must be operable.

• Life jackets must be readily accessible. They need to be stowed were they can be easily reached or out in the open ready for wear.

• Life jackets must be readily available, which means take them out of the bag or packaging and have them within an arm's length of all passengers.

• Life jackets must be the appropriate size for the person who will wear it. If a jacket is too large, it will pop off a child; if it's too small, it won't keep a heavier adult afloat.

• Children age 12 and younger must wear a life jacket when under way on any boat 20 feet or shorter, and all canoes and kayaks.

Each year the Fish and Boat Commission patrols the waters of the to protect boaters and remind them of safe boating practices.

Each year, the commission is called into action to help with search and rescue activities because of poor choices boaters often make. There is nothing more tragic than finding a personal flotation device floating on the water and still searching for the victim who should have been wearing it.

The most common law enforcement violations during boating season are safety issues. Among the most common poor choices that every boater should avoid include:

• Too many passengers and too few PFD's

• Picking up the wrong types of jackets and frequently using cushions or other types of throwables for PFD's,

• Children with the wrong- sized jacket — or none at all

• Jackets that are worn, torn, oil soaked or or have fabric that is dry rotted.

Jay E. Hewitt is an outdoors writer for the Butler Eagle.