DO NOT REMOVE PRIOR TO SALE! OWNER'S MANUAL for Model Nos. 24M11-S22 APPROVAL CONDITIONS AND CARRIAGE REGULATIONS These inflatable PFDs are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for use as Type V Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), and approved ONLY WHEN WORN. They provide Type I I I performance under approval limitations only if used in accordance with its Owner's Manual. It is not approved for water skiing or other high impact, high speed activities.
CONDITIONS FOR THIS TYPE V APPROVAL This inflatable PFD is approved for use as a substitute for a Type III PFD ONLY WHEN WORN. Conditional approvals are granted by the Coast Guard for PFDs that: 1. Do not meet all the requirements for approval under the Type I through IV categories but offer other significant safety features, or 2. Have features or uses not found in Type I through IV PFDs that require special user knowledge.
Why: Are you sure that no one else inflated the PFD recently and did not replace the cylinder? Why: U.S. Coast Guard studies have shown high percentages of unserviceable inflatable PFDs with used cylinders in them when used by recreational boaters. In addition to inspecting the mechanism and cylinder before each outing you must periodically check the other components of the PFD. This would include the chamber, webbing, buckles and thread.
DONNING INSTRUCTIONS – Practice closing hardware and adjusting before use or prior to inwater testing (Pages 11, 12 and 13). STEP 1 Wear like a jacket, inserting arms between straps and fabric. 1. 2. 3. STEP 2 Close front buckle, manual pull lanyard should be visible on your lower right side. STEP 3 Adjust Waist Strap through slide located on right side until comfortably snug fit is obtained. Tuck free end of belt under waist strap. I.
II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE A. PRE-DONNING INSTRUCTIONS CHECK THE FOLLOWING BEFORE USING THIS PFD: 1. INSPECT PFD FOR DAMAGE 2. EXAMINE INFLATION MECHANISM STATUS INDICATORS 3. EXAMINE CO2 CYLINDER FACE FOR PUNCTURE HOLE READ BELOW FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION! 1. Inspecting Your PFD For Damage Make sure that the PFD is free from rips, tears or punctures. This type of damage on the outside covering indicates that the Inflatable Chamber may have been exposed to potentially damaging elements.
3. Examine Your CO2 Cylinder The CO2 cylinder contains the gas charge that will inflate your PFD when you jerk the pull tab firmly downward. You must verify that the CO2 Cylinder installed is of the correct size and has not been previously used. To examine the cylinder, you must Unscrew it and visually examine the flat surface on the threaded end (see steps 4 and 5 on Back Cover). There are no indicators to show that the CO2 cylinder is full.
C. DONNING INSTRUCTIONS See Page 4 for pictogram instruction. After donning, locate the Jerk to Inflate tab for the mechanism. It should protrude from the PFD as shown on the pictogram. Make sure that you are comfortable locating the Jerk to Inflate tab with either hand. Should an emergency develop, be prepared to use it! Always wear your PFD over, not under clothing. Caution - Bulky clothing may affect the ability of this PFD to turn the wearer to a face-up position in the water. D.
F. DEFLATION INSTRUCTIONS Depress Oral Valve (located inside end of Oral Tube) using the protective cap or tab provided by inserting into the end of Oral Tube, see drawing. Gently compress air out of the inflatable chamber while depressing the Oral Valve. DO NOT TWIST OR WRING INFLATABLE DEFLATE. CHAMBER TO If for any reason the Oral Valve remains open, depress it several times. If it does not release, discontinue use of this PFD and take it to a certified Stearns Repair Facility.
7. Never use in below freezing temperatures unless worn partly inflated. At or below 40°F inflation time with CO2 gas will be longer. Wearing a partially inflated PFD under these conditions will provide some initial buoyancy while the PFD fully inflates. Caution: Do not fully inflate orally and then inflate with the CO2 cylinder. Repeated CO2 inflation after oral inflation will damage the PFD to the point that it will not hold air or float. III. CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS A.
C. INSPECTION Certified Inspection - Stearns strongly recommends that this device be inspected at least every 24 months by a certified Stearns Repair Facility or STEARNS Inc. User's Inspection - The users should perform the following checks before each season, or before a long journey, or as recommended below: 1. Leak Test - This test should be performed every two months and at the start of each season. (a) Remove the CO2 cylinder (b) Inflate using the oral inflator (c) Leave to rest for 16 hours.
V. WHY ARE PFDs REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT? Drownings are the leading cause of fatalities involving recreational boating. A PFD provides flotation to help keep your head above water, help you to stay face up in the water, and increase your chances for survival and rescue. Most adults only need an extra 7 to 12 pounds of flotation to keep their heads above water. The proper size PFD will properly support the weight of the wearer.
HOW DO YOU TEST YOUR PFD USING THE MANUAL INFLATOR? 1. To test your inflatable PFD, you will need: • Your fully armed PFD, and • Rearming kit approved for your PFD. 2. Put on the PFD. 3. Actuate the inflation system by jerking firmly downward on the pull tab. The PFD should fully inflate within 5 seconds. 4. Get into shallow water, just deep enough that you can stand with your head above the surface. 5. See if the PFD will float you on your back or just slightly back of vertical.
HOW DO YOU TEST YOUR PFD USING THE ORAL INFLATOR? 1. To test your inflatable PFD, you will not need any spare parts or rearming kits. 2. Remove the CO2 cylinder, to prevent inadvertent activation of the manual inflation system which could potentially damage the PFD. Inspect the threaded end to confirm its un-used. 3. Put on the PFD. 4. Get into shallow water, just deep enough that you can stand with your head above the surface. 5.
VII. WEAR YOUR PFD In approximately 80 percent of all boating fatalities, the victims were not wearing a PFD. Most fatal accidents happen on calm sunny days. This inflatable PFD is much more comfortable to wear than other PFD types. Get into the habit of wearing this PFD. Non-swimmers and children especially should wear a hybrid or non-inflatable PFD at all times when on or near the water. VIII.
Some Points Protection: to Remember About Hypothermia 1) Always wear your PFD. Even if you become incapacitated due to hypothermia, the PFD will keep you afloat and greatly improve your chances of rescue. 2) Do not attempt to swim unless it is to reach a nearby craft, fellow survivor, or a floating object on which you can lean or climb. Swimming increases the rate of body heat loss. In cold water, drown-proofing methods that require putting your head in the water are not recommended.
IX. EACH OF THESE DEVICES IS INTENDED TO HELP YOU SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE For your PFD to function properly, follow these suggestions to verify that it fits, floats, and remains in good condition. 1) Check the inflation mechanism status indicators before each use. 2) Get in the habit of rearming the inflation mechanism right after each inflation. 3) Try your wearable PFD on and adjust it until it fits comfortably in and out of the water. 4) Mark your PFD with your name if you are the only wearer.
X. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION If you need more information about PFDs and safe recreational boating, contact your state boating authority, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, Red Cross, or your nearest unit of the U.S. Coast Guard; or call the CG Customer InfoLine at 1-800-368-5647 or the Free Boating Course number 1-800-336-BOAT (in VA, 1-800-245-BOAT) or see USCG Boating Web Page at www.boating.org.
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Step 4 Inspect the face of the new cylinder. Be sure it is smooth and has no holes or scratches. There is a gross weight on the cylinder. If you have any questions about cylinder integrity, weigh the cylinder on a small scale, such as a postage scale. Compare the weight printed on the cylinder to the actual weight. If they do not match, get another cylinder. Step 1 Unscrew used CO2 cylinder in a counter-clockwise direction and immediately discard. Do not insert new cylinder at this time.
