4.3.3 Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) PFDs are an essential item for increasing long-term survival in the water.
All PFDs should be:
- regularly checked to ensure belts, straps, buckles and webbing are useable
- rinsed in fresh water and thoroughly dried out of sunlight after use
- of the correct size for the user
There are three basic types of PFDs under the Australian standards.
A Type One PFD is designed:
- to keep the wearer in a face up position
- to if necessary roll an unconscious person from a face down to a face up position
- in either bright red, orange or yellow colour
The Type One PFD is commonly referred to as a “lifejacket” and is recognisable by the collar, reflective tape and often has a torch, whistle or sometimes an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) attached. Some Type One jackets are filled with a solid buoyant material (such as on passenger boats) whilst others will self inflate or alternately have an inflating tube for the wearer to manually inflate (such as on aircraft).
Type Two and Type Three PFDs are designed:
- for use in water sports such as kayaking, jet skiing, kite boarding etc
- to be less buoyant than a Type One PFD
- with larger arm holes and a higher waist to allow a range of movement
Type Two must also be a bright red, orange or yellow colour whilst Type Three can be any colour.
Swim Australia Teachers should provide opportunities for students to use PFDs in the water. The following skills are important:
- how to get into and out of a PFD on land, in a boat, and in the water
- knowing what are the best strokes to use when wearing a PFD
- how to enter and exit the water in a range of situations including:
- entering from a height holding the jacket down with the hands so the jacket does not ride up the body, potentially damaging the neck or causing injury due to the PFD crutch strap
- climbing up rocks, steep banks, into or out a boat or onto or off a surfboard
- how to stay balanced whilst wearing a PFD in a HELP or huddle position