Stearns Recreational 4430 - Manual (Page 4)

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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 CO
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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 CO
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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.