What is the primary purpose of wearing a life jacket while boating?

Wearing a life jacket while boating significantly increases the chances of survival in the event of an accident or capsize. The life jacket is designed to provide buoyancy, helping the wearer stay afloat in the water. This buoyancy is crucial because, in an emergency situation, the ability to remain above the water can mean the difference between life and death.

While staying warm in cold water is a valid consideration, it is not the primary function of a life jacket. Additionally, although signaling for help may be important during a boating emergency, a life jacket does not serve that purpose directly. Preventing the boat from capsizing is also important for safety, but a life jacket does not influence the stability of the boat itself; instead, it is a personal safety device intended to aid individuals in staying afloat if they fall overboard or if the vessel capsizes. Thus, the main goal of wearing a life jacket is clearly related to enhancing survival through buoyancy.