Perhaps the most important piece of equipment one can have when spending a day on the watercraft is a quality life jacket. Whether you’re a casual rider who takes your jet ski out from time to time or a competitive pro trying to get the most speed possible out of your racing vehicle, a life jacket is an undeniable necessity for anyone on the water. However, the eagle-eyed among us may have noticed that this watercraft staple has received a small but important update in recent years.

The update comes in the form of a label redesign designed to make the information on the lifejacket easier to read and universally understood. The new Coast Guard-approved labels replace the old lifejacket label design, which was written in paragraph form and small font, and are more based on symbols and illustrations with few basic words, making them easier to understand for an international audience. The label design also minimizes consumer burden, with key information printed in large format, allowing consumers to quickly find the vest that best suits their needs.

Perhaps the most important new feature is the clear indication of the vest’s buoyancy, indicated as 50, 70, 100 or 150. Most vests currently available in the U.S. have a buoyancy of 70, which is the lowest buoyancy approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Another prominent symbol is a round arrow that indicates whether or not the vest can properly turn an unconscious person face up – an important feature, especially for those participating in higher-risk water activities. Finally, the new design includes a list of water sports that the life jacket is not suitable for, which is essential to know for those who plan to use these vests for water sports and high-speed boating.

Check out the full breakdown in this article from the BoatUS Foundation to make sure you’re completely up to date and know what these new updates mean for you!