Stearns Recreational 0340 manual Mandatory Carriage Requirements, III. Instructions for USE

MANDATORY CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS

Federal Regulations in 33 CFR 175-1993 require you to carry Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) legibly marked with the Coast Guard approval number, which are in good and serviceable condition, and are the correct size for each person on board. To be considered serviceable, this PFD shall not exhibit deterioration that could diminish its performance such as broken or deformed hardware, detached webbing, rotted structural components, air leaks or nonfunctional oral tubes. Unless worn inflated, this PFD must also be properly armed with a full CO2 cylinder, inflation system indicator and an accessible manual inflation lanyard. Since this PFD is “approved only when worn” it must be worn under the conditions specified on Page 1.

III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Know your PFD. Familiarize yourself with its features and practice using it before attempting to use it in deep water or in an emergency. You must accept responsibility for proper use and care of this device, and in-water trials to check its performance. This device is not recommended for non-swimmers, since panic by the user in an emergency situation can prevent proper donning and inflation. This PFD is not approved for children under 16.

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.

4.Be sure cylinder is screwed in tight.

Read below for more detailed information

1. Inspecting Your PFD for Damage

Make sure that the PFD is free of rips, tears or punctures. This type of damage on the outside covering indicates that the Inflatable C h a m b e r may have been exposed to potentially damaging elements. If these defects expose the yellow chamber material, discontinue use of the PFD until you have had the PFD inspected by an certified Stearns Repair Facility. If these defects are noticed but the yellow chamber fabric is not exposed, the Inflatable Chamber should also be checked for leaks. The Inflatable Chamber should also be checked for leaks at the beginning of each season and at least every two months during the boating season. The leak test procedure is described under USER’S INSPECTION. Refer to Pages 14 and 15.

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