![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/box5363.temp.domains\/~privavh4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG-5826-981x1024.jpg?resize=981%2C1024\"){kind=spacer}
Every summer thousands of people go on commercial river trips. They stand at the river\u2019s edge eagerly listening to the safety talk, but when it comes to the dreaded PFD fitting ceremony, they run for the hills. The guides grumble as they listen to complaints of \u201cit\u2019s too tight! I can\u2019t breathe!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do you need to know to use a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) safely?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do you need to know to use a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) Safely?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nChoose Based on Activity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
First things first, we need to choose a lifejacket\/PFD appropriate for the activity we are participating in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US Coast Guard uses a classification system to help determine what a PFD can be used for. Here<\/a> is a great article about the classification system, and what it means. For white water this is what you need to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Most PFDs that are designed for whitewater are Type III and Type V.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Type III has about 15 pounds of flotation, are designed to allow for motion and to keep the wareee up right. This means it won\u2019t keep the airway open if the person is unconscious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n -Type V are special use PFDs that are designed for very specific preposes. For example, most commercial rafting trips have Type V PFDs for customers with a pillow to keep the airway open in rough water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n -Rescue PFDs have quick release feature which is useful in swift water rescue situations. If you want to know more about Swift Water Rescue, take a class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the PFD needs to be comfortable. If you don\u2019t ware it, it won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All lifejackets have a weight and chest size associated with it. Take measurements and choose one that will fit you. You will know the size and weight classification by reading the label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, make sure it is adjusted properly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Buckle all buckles from the bottom up, so you don\u2019t miss one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Close all zippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Starting from the bottom up, tighten all the adjustable straps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Test the fit by pulling on the shoulder straps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who have bigger busts, if you can lengthen the shoulder straps and tighten the sides, often you can find a more comfortable fit, because it drops the front panel to act as a support as opposed to extra compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, if you are on the water consistently ie. guiding, the rule is: a lifejacket has the lifespan of about 4 seasons. However, if you go for a swim in season 2 and feel like you aren\u2019t as buoyant as when you first got the lifejacket, it\u2019s time for a new one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s time for a new PFD when there is a lot of sun damage, tears in the fabric, broken buckles, broken zippers, or when the label is worn off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoiding unnecessary sun exposure, making sure the PFD dries out and never ever<\/em> using your PFD as a cushion will help extend it’s life. <\/p>\n\n\n Every summer thousands of people go on commercial river trips. They stand at the river\u2019s edge eagerly listening to the safety talk, but when it comes to the dreaded PFD fitting ceremony, they run for the hills. The guides grumble as they listen to complaints of \u201cit\u2019s too tight! I can\u2019t breathe!\u201d What do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"WB4WB4WP_MODE":"","WB4WP_PAGE_SCRIPTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_STYLES":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FONTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_HEADER":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FOOTER":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[13,4,17,16,3,18,14,7],"class_list":["post-95","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","tag-gear","tag-kayaking","tag-lifejacket","tag-pfd","tag-rafting","tag-river","tag-safety","tag-whitewater"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG-5826.jpg?fit=2094%2C2185&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=95"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95\/revisions\/142"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=95"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=95"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/privateboatersurvivalguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=95"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Choose for Comfort <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/box5363.temp.domains\/~privavh4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG-5827.jpg\")
How to Take Care of your PFD and When to Get a New One<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\t