parkswa.gov parkswa.govIt's Paddle Safe Week (July 22-28), and the best way to observe this time is to wear a life jacket every time your in, or on the water. WA Law Requires All Vessels Must Have One Life Jacket Per Person on BoardState law requires all vessels, including canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to have at least one properly fitted Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Participants under the age of 12 are required to wear the life jacket at all times, but paddlers of all ages and even those with strong swimming skills are encouraged to wear a life jacket, due to the unpredictable nature of the sport. Participants under the age of 12 must wear the life jacket at ALL times. When floating on the Yakima River, my husband was NOT wearing a life jacket, and we encountered an issue.