Think Safe Choose the Right Personal Flotation Device (PFD) This package contains a Flotation Aid (Type III PFD). Other available types are described within. A Flotation Aid (Type III PFD) is: Designed to provide a stable face-up position in calm water for a wearer floating with head tilted back. Available in a wide variety of styles. Available in many sizes for good fit.
Do Not Attach PFDs To Boat! Each PFD has straps, hooks, buckles, or other means for securing the device in place on the wearer. Some PFDs also incorporate decorative D-rings or tabs. Such items are not to be used to attach the device to the boat. Attaching the device to the boat will not permit it to perform as intended.
How Many PFDs Do You Need? The United States Coast Guard* says you must have USCG approved Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) on your recreational boat. How many and what type PFDs you’ll need depends on the number of people on board, the size and type of your boat, and the kind of boating you do. You must have one of any of these wearable PFDs for each person on board: Off-Shore Life Jacket (Type I PFD). Near-Shore Buoyant Vest (Type II PFD). Flotation Aid (Type III PFD). Special Use Device (Type V PFD).
Off-Shore Life Jacket (Type I PFD) Best for open, rough or remote water, where rescue may be slow coming. Advantages Floats you the best. Turns most unconscious wearers face-up in water. Highly visible color. Disadvantages Bulky. Sizes Two sizes to fit most children and adults.
Near-Shore Buoyant Vest (Type II PFD) Good for calm, inland water, or where there is good chance of fast rescue. Advantages Turns some unconscious wearers face-up in water. Less bulky, more comfortable than Off-Shore Life Jacket (Type I PFD). Disadvantages Not for long hours in rough water. Will not turn some unconscious wearer face-up in water. Sizes Infant, Child-Small, Child-Medium, and Adult.
Flotation Aid (Type III PFD) Good for calm, inland water, or where there is good chance of fast rescue. Advantages Generally the most comfortable type for continuous wear. Designed for General Boating or the activity that is marked on the device. Available in many styles, including vests and flotation coats. Disadvantages Wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid going face-down. In rough water, a wearer’s face may often be covered by waves. Not for extended survival in rough water.
Throwable Device (Type IV PFD) For calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby. Advantages Can be thrown to someone. Good back-up to wearable PFDs. Some can be used as seat cushion. Disadvantages Not for unconscious persons. Not for nonswimmers or children. Not for many hours in rough water. Kinds Cushions, ring, and horseshoe buoys.
Special Use Devices (Type V PFD) Only for special uses or conditions. See label for limits of use. Varieties include boardsailing vests, deck suits, work vests, hybrid PFDs, and others. Advantages Made for specific activities. Type V Hybrid Inflatable Device Required to be worn to be counted as a regulation PFD. Advantages Least bulky of all types. High flotation when inflated. Good for continuous wear. Disadvantages May not adequately float some wearers unless partially inflated.
Be Safe Wearing PFDs Beat the Odds Choose the Right PFD and Wear It Most drownings occur way out at sea, right? Wrong! Fact is, 9 out of 10 drownings occur in inland waters, most within a few feet of safety. Most of the victims owned PFDs, but they died without them. A wearable PFD can save your life, if you wear it. If you haven’t been wearing your PFD because of the way it makes you look or feel, there’s good news. Today’s PFDs fit better, look better, and are easy to move around in.
Staying on Top Most adults only need an extra seven to 12 pounds of buoyancy to keep their heads above water. A PFD can give that “extra lift,” and it’s made to keep you floating until help comes. But a PFD is a personal flotation device and it’s important to get the right one for you. Your weight isn’t the only factor in finding out how much “extra lift” you need in water. Body fat, lung size, clothing, and whether the water is rough or calm, all play a part in staying on top.
Trying Your PFD Try on your PFD to see if it fits comfortably snug. Then test it in shallow water to see how it handles. To check the buoyancy of your PFD in the water, relax your body and let your head tilt back. Make sure your PFD keeps your chin above water and you can breathe easily. Be aware: your PFD may not act the same in swift or rough water as in calm water. The clothes you wear and the items in your pockets may also change the way your PFD works.
Caring for Your PFD Follow these points to be sure your PFD stays in good condition: 1. Don’t alter your PFD. If yours doesn’t fit, get one that does. Play it safe. An altered PFD may not save your life. 2. Don’t put heavy objects on your PFD or use it for a kneeling pad or boat fender. PFDs lose buoyancy when crushed. 3. Let your PFD drip dry thoroughly before putting it away. Always stow it in a well-ventilated place. 4. Don’t leave your PFD on board for long periods when the boat is not in use. 5.
Checking Your PFD Check your PFD often for rips, tears, and holes, and to see that seams, fabric straps, and hardware are okay. Give your PFD belts and tie tapes a quick, hard pull to make sure they are secure. There should be no signs of waterlogging, mildew odor, or shrinkage of the buoyant materials. If your PFD uses bags of kapok (a naturally buoyant material), gently squeeze the bag to check for air leaks. If it leaks, it should be thrown away.
Teach Your Children Well Children panic when they fall into the water suddenly. This causes them to move their arms and legs violently, making it hard to float safely in a PFD. A PFD will keep a child afloat, but may not keep a struggling child face-up. That’s why it’s so important to teach children how to put on a PFD and to help them get used to wearing one in the water. To work right, a PFD must fit snugly on a child. To check for a good fit, pick the child up by the shoulders of the PFD.
Skipper - Skip the Drink Alcohol slows you down and keeps you from thinking clearly. Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking. As many as 80 percent of boating accidents involve alcohol. Drive your boat defensively. Watch out for others who have been drinking. They’re accidents waiting to happen. Alcohol works to lower your body temperature faster when you’re in the water. If you’ve been drinking, you will not survive as long in cold water.
The Cold Facts Be aware that cold water (less than 70 degrees F) can lower your body temperature. This is called hypothermia. If your body temperature goes too low, you may pass out and then drown. Even if you’re wearing a PFD, your body can cool down 25 times faster in cold water than in air. Water temperature, body size, amount of body fat, and movement in the water all play a part in cold water survival. Small people cool faster than large people. Children cool faster than adults.
Cold Water Survival When you’re in cold water, don’t swim unless you can reach a nearby boat, fellow survivor, or floating object. Even good swimmers drown while swimming in cold water. Swimming lowers your body temperature. If a nearby floating object is large, pull yourself up on it. The more your body is out of the water, the warmer you’ll be. Don’t use drownproofing methods that call for putting your face in the water. Keep your head out of the water to lessen heat loss and increase survival time.
Remember -- Safe Boating is No Accident Keep this pamphlet in a convenient spot on your boat. Read it often. If you need more information about PFDs and safe 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. To find out about free boating courses in your area call 1-800-336-BOAT (in Virginia, call 800-245-BOAT).
NOTES:
IMPORTANT MESSAGE — PLEASE READ NOW Since children come in many sizes and shapes, the U.S. Coast Guard and this PFD manufacturer urge that this device be tested immediately after purchase. Check for proper weight range, comfortable fit, and especially stable face-up position in the water. A child is difficult to float in a face-up position because of the distribution of body weight and a child’s tendency to struggle or attempt to climb out of the water.
