PFD - Selection Tips

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/tv/handyhints.asp
With two big rivers, pristine Ozark streams, and some beautiful lakes...Missourians spend a lot of time on the water. It's a great way to spend your leisure time, but unless you do it safely, fun can turn into tragedy. Make sure you wear a US Coast Guard approved type iii personal flotation device...or PFD...whenever you're on the water. A good one costs between $50 and $90. This model provides adequate flotation in rough inland waters, protects your torso from abrasions and provides extra warmth on cold days...without restricting your movement. Some models include extra flotation to keep an unconscious person's head back...and children=s models will include that feature plus leg straps to prevent a child from slipping out of the jacket. A properly fitting PFD fits snugly around your torso without inhibiting mobility and will stay in place when you float in water. If it rides up and obscures your vision, it's too big. Check this out at the store by having a friend pull up on the vest. Move around as if you're paddling a canoe or casting a line to make sure the vest doesn=t inhibit movement. And look for plastic buckles and avoid uncoated metals. Also make sure your PFD fits over layers of clothing...because if it doesn't, you're less likely to wear it. Don=t assume just because you're a good swimmer, you don't need a personal flotation device. If you're knocked unconscious or stranded in cold or swift water, it can save your life. And remember, like a seat belt, it doesn't work if it isn't fastened. A PFD protects you and the people you love.

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Howto & Style

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• pfd
• life
• jacket
• preserver
• personal
• floatation
• device
• missouri
• conservation