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FIGURE 21
In order to understand how your inflatable operates you should
inflate it. Depending on the type of inflatable you have you can inflate
it automatically, manually, or by the oral inflator. The following steps
will guide you through each process:
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.
If your mouth is not well above the water, get a new PFD or one with
more buoyancy.
A PFD is designed not to ride-up on the body when in the water.
But when the wearer’s stomach is larger than the chest, ride-up
may occur. Before use, test this PFD in the water to establish that
excessive ride-up does not impair PFD performance.
