PFDs:
Personal Flotation Devices
Information adapted from the California Department
of Boating and Waterways
|
WHAT IS A PFD? | on a sailboat, the child is restrained by a
harness tethered to the sailboat, OR
| the child is in an enclosed cabin. | |
Every person on board a personal watercraft (PWC) and water skiers must wear a Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket. Exceptions: a person aboard a personal watercraft or being towed behind a vessel on water skis if that person is a performer in a professional exhibition, or preparing to participate in an official regatta, marine parade, tournament or exhibition. In lieu of wearing a Type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, any person engaged in slalom skiing on a marked course, or any person engaged in barefoot, jump, or trick water skiing may elect to wear a wetsuit designed for the activity and labeled by the manufacturer as a water ski wetsuit. A Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket must be carried in the tow vessel for each skier electing to wear a wetsuit.
Inflatable PFD's - The U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable PFDs in 1996. Only certain brands are U.S. Coast Guard approved, so check the label. While activation upon impact is not a required feature, inflatables must be equipped, at a minimum, with both a manual (pull) and oral inflation system. They are only approved for persons 16 years of age or older, and must be wearable, not throwable-type PFDs. Inflatables are not recommended for non-swimmers and are not intended for use while water-skiing or on personal watercraft.
The number and type of U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs required to be carried on a vessel depends on the length of the craft and the number of persons on board. There are five types of PFDs approved for use aboard recreational craft. State law requires that:
| All boats less than 16 feet in length, and
canoes and kayaks of any length, must carry at least one personal
flotation device for each person on board. The PFD may be a wearable
(Type I, II, or III) of the appropriate size, or a throwable (Type
IV).| All boats 16 feet or over in length, except
canoes and kayaks, must carry one wearable (Type I, II, or III) of
the appropriate size for each person on board and one
throwable (Type IV) device in each boat. | |
However, a federal law effective May 1, 1995, requires that:
| All boats less than 16 feet in length, and
canoes and kayaks of any length, must carry a Type I, II, or III wearable
PFD of the appropriate size for each person on board. (The effective
date of this regulation for manually propelled vessels under 16 feet
in length used in livery or rental operations is May 1, 1996.)| All boats 16 feet or over in length, except
canoes and kayaks, must carry one wearable (Type I, II, or III) of
the appropriate size for each person on board and one throwable
(Type IV) device in each boat. | |
On federally navigable waters, federal peace officers began enforcing the regulation on May 1, 1995. However, state and local peace officers on state waters cannot enforce the regulation until it has been incorporated into state law. It is recommended that boaters comply with the new law if unsure whether they are on federally navigable waters.
Federally navigable waters are:
| U.S. territorial seas (up to three miles off
shore).
| Internal waters subject to tidal influence.
| Internal waters from which a boat can be
navigated to tidally influenced waters.
| The following specified waters: (1) Lake
Tahoe (CA and NV), the Colorado River between Parker Dam and Davis
Dam, including Lake Havasu (CA and AZ). | (2) Inland lakes where the federal government has law enforcement authority. |
A Type V PFD may be carried in lieu of any PFD required, but only if the Type V is approved for the activity in which the boat is being used. A Type V hybrid PFD must be worn in order to be acceptable.
PFD Types I, II, and III must be "readily accessible." This means they may not be kept inside a plastic bag or protective covering, they must be easy to reach, and must be stowed with the straps untied. All throwable PFDs (Type IV) must be "immediately available."The law requires that they be kept in an open area where persons on board can reach them quickly in an emergency.
A PFD must be in good and serviceable condition in order to meet legal requirements. If it is torn, damaged, rotten, punctured, or otherwise unserviceable, or if straps or fasteners are damaged or missing, it no longer meets legal requirements.
Besides being in good and serviceable condition, a PFD must be of the appropriate size for the intended wearer, and carry a U.S. Coast Guard approval number.
U.S. COAST GUARD APPROVAL
In order for a PFD to meet legal requirements, it must be U.S. Coast Guard approved. That means that the device meets detailed specifications concerning the performance and design of the equipment. Coast Guard approval is shown by a stencil marking or tag on the PFD. This tag or marking shows the name and address of the manufacturer and the Coast Guard approval number. It also shows the amount of flotation in the device and the PFD Type (I, II, III, IV, OR V).
There are many flotation devices available that are not Coast Guard approved and do not meet legal requirements. Devices which rely solely on inflation for buoyancy are not approved for recreational use. Other devices that are not approved include wet suits and water-ski belts. If skiers prefer to use a ski belt, a Coast Guard-approved PFD must be carried aboard the boat for each skier.
Windsurfers are not required by state law to wear PFDS, although some local jurisdictions may so require in areas under their control. However, wearing an appropriate PFD while windsurfing is strongly recommended.
WHICH TYPE OF PFD?
There are five types of PFDs (I, II, III, IV, and V), each intended for different uses. Within the legal requirements, the type of PFD you choose to carry on board is a matter of personal choice. Some types offer greater protection, and some offer greater freedom of movement or are designed for special uses. Note that PFDs are designed to perform as described in calm water and when the wearer is not wearing any other flotation material (such as a wet suit). PFDs with greater buoyancy offer better chances for survival in high seas where large waves can engulf a swimmer.
TYPE I: Offshore Life Jacket
Intended for use offshore in open or coastal waters, or potentially
rough seas where quick rescue may not be available. A Type I PFD will
turn most unconscious persons face-up in the water. It is the most
effective PFD for use in rough water because it provides the maximum
amount of buoyancy (22 pounds) available. It is reversible and is
available in only two sizes, adult (90 lbs. or more) and child (less
than 90 lbs.).
TYPE II: Near-Shore Buoyant Vest
Designed for general boating activities and suitable for calm, inland
water, or for activities where quick rescue is available. A Type II is
not suitable for extended or overnight survival in rough or cold water.
A Type II PFD will turn many but not all persons face-up in the water.
Type IIs are available in several sizes: adult (90 lbs. or more),
child-Medium (50 lbs. to 90 lbs.),child-Small (less than 50 lbs.) and
infant (less than 30 lbs.). An approved Type II provides 15.5 pounds of
buoyancy.
TYPE III: Flotation Aid
Designed for general boating activities or specialized activities such
as hunting, skiing, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Type III PFDs are
intended for use on calm water, in fair weather and daylight, where
quick rescue is available. A Type III PFD is designed to provide a
stable face-up position in calm water for a conscious person floating
with head tilted back. A Type III PFD is not intended to turn or
maintain an unconscious wearer face-up in the water. If used for a
special activity, it should be worn at all times. A Type III provides
15.5 pounds of buoyancy and is available in many sizes. One special Type
III PFD, called a floatcoat, provides not only flotation, but also some
protection against hypothermia, as well as against impact injury.
TYPE IV: Throwable Devices: Ring Buoys, Buoyant Cushions
A Type IV PFD is intended to be thrown to a person who has fallen
overboard, and is designed to be grasped and held by the user until
rescued. It may be a cushion or a ring buoy. Cushion-style PFDs are not
intended to be worn. If worn on the back, a cushion-style PFD will turn
the wearer face-down in the water. A Type IV PFD is of no use to an
unconscious or exhausted person and is not recommended for nonswimmers
or children. It is not suitable for rough or cold water survival. It
provides enough buoyancy (ring buoys have 16.5 pounds and cushions 18
pounds) for users to keep their heads above water. It is suitable for
use on boats under 16 feet, in calm, inland waters where quick rescue is
likely. On boats 16 feet and over, one Type IV PFD is required, in
addition to wearable PFD requirements.
TYPE V: Special Use Devices
Special Use: Designed and approved for restricted uses or
specific activities such as windsurfing or commercial whitewater
rafting. This type of PFD is only acceptable when used for the activity
for which it is designed. The label on the Type V PFD indicates the
approved activity, restrictions or limitations, and equivalent
performance type (whether its flotation is equivalent to a Type (I, II,
OR III). If a Type V PFD is approved and identified for commercial use
only, it does not satisfy requirements for recreational watercraft,
unless otherwise specified. Special use Type V PFDs range in buoyancy
from 15.5 to 22 pounds.
Hybrid Device: The hybrid Type V PFD uses inflation in addition to the type of buoyant flotation material found in traditional PFDS. To be acceptable for use on recreational craft, the hybrid Type V PFD must be worn, except when the boat is not under way, or when the boater is in an enclosed space, such as a boat cabin. It provides a minimum of 7.5 pounds of buoyancy when deflated, and 22 pounds when inflated. When fully inflated, a hybrid's flotation performance is equivalent to that of a Type I, II, or III (the performance type will be marked on the label). A hybrid PFD is more comfortable than some other types of PFD because it is less bulky when deflated. Testing the hybrid in the water before use is recommended to determine whether the buoyancy inherent in the device when inflated provides sufficient flotation. For hybrids using CO 2 cartridges for inflation, the cartridges must be inspected periodically to ensure that they have not been spent. The user must accept the responsibility for the care of the device.
The hybrid PFD is not approved for persons
weighing less than 90 lbs., and is not recommended for nonswimmers.
Commercial hybrid PFDs do not satisfy requirements for recreational
watercraft.
RECOMMENDED USE
Children, the elderly, and nonswimmers should always wear their PFDs while the boat is under way. In rough water it is recommended that everyone on board wear a PFD.
When boating in cold water, PFDs should be worn AT ALL TIMES. Cold water can numb the extremities and slow reflexes almost immediately. If you fall into cold water, you may not have the opportunity or the ability to don a PFD.
Each passenger on board should know where the PFDs are located and should make sure their wearable device fits properly. It is a good idea to hold a practice emergency drill on the proper use of PFDs at least once each year. Practice swimming and floating while wearing a PFD. Try putting one on while in the water.
Families should mark each person's device with their name and stow it with the name facing up in an accessible, well-ventilated area out of the sun. Children's PFDs should be checked periodically for proper fit.
Remember that a PFD is considered an aid; it should not be considered a substitute for good swimming ability.
RULE OF THUMB: WHEN IN DOUBT, WEAR IT OUT
A good rule of thumb is to wear the vest whenever in doubt about whether it should or should not be worn. Even good swimmers don't do so well when unconscious or hypothermic, both of which events are significant likelihood in the event of persons overboard. Click for a personal essay on the subject.
BUY A PFD