All kinds of floatation devices are designed to achieve the same thing and that is helping in staying afloat. They are a must-have on every boat and for all on-water activities as well. While you might think about a life jacket at first upon hearing the term “Personal Floatation Device”, the type IV PFD ain’t it.
In this article, I will be discussing “What is the main advantage of type IV PFD”. Keep reading till the end of the article to find out more information about the same!
Primary Advantages Of A Type IV PFD
Here is a list of some of the more useful advantages of using the type IV PFD over the types available out there:
Easy Usage & Versatile In Nature
The Type IV throwable PFDs are pretty easy to use which is a great advantage in itself – this is because emergencies require fast actions. The ease of usage of these PFDs ensures that everything goes well even in dire situations, and that everyone remains safe.
Unlike the other types of Personal Flotation Devices that require the person to first put them on and fit them, this one doesn’t. A type IV PFD can quickly be thrown to someone in the water. They just need to grab hold of it and that’s it.
Location Marker
Another great advantage of a PFD is that it can be used as a location indicator. For instance, it can be used for marking the exact spot where a person might have gone overboard. This makes all the difference in a rescue situation.
As you can already imagining and, pinpointing the exact location where anyone was last seen is a pretty difficult task on a moving boat. A Type IV PFD in this case, is going to be able to help the boat operator or even the rescue and search teams in narrowing down a general area – where the search is to be started.
Keep reading to find out even more about “what is the main advantage of a type IV PFD”!
Universal Size
When it comes to an average life jacket, there is always the requirement of making sure that the size and fit are correct. Otherwise, the PFD would not be able to provide adequate buoyancy for keeping the wearer afloat. This is never an issue with a Type IV PFD though!
Hence this is because it is designed to be thrown in water for the person to grab onto it rather than wearing it. This is why there’s no need to worry about sizing.
Tip: What is the best way to minimize the risk of drowning while boating? Well, the best way is to wear a life jacket while going on such a venture.
Is Towable
It is a great idea to keep a rope attached to Type IV PFD at all times – even when not in use. This way when you throw this particular type of PFD at the person who fell overboard, the rope is going to go with the PFD and enable you to pull the person closer.
This is a much safer approach for rescuing than having someone else to jump in the water.
Process Of Using A Type IV PFD
The type IV PFD is actually reserving only for overboard situations and is the one crucial thing to remember about these Personal Floatation Devices. In this section of the article, I will be discussing the procedure for using the type IV PFDs.
Step 1.
First, you need to throw the PFD at the person who went overboard and is struggling to swim.
Step 2.
Then you need to inform the person who is in distress that they are all supposed to grab the device by locking their hands together and placing them under the chest.
Step 3.
After the person has already secured their grip on the PFD, instruct them on using their legs to propel towards the boat.
Step 4.
If the throwable device has a rope or line attached to it then you can use it to help the person by pulling them closer towards you. This is going to make the process of rescuing much faster.
Step 5.
If the cushion of the buoyant has side straps then the person who is in water should be able to slip their arms right through the straps to ensure a better balance and grip.
Guide To Caring For A Type IV PFD
Now that we are done covering the part about – what is the main advantage of a type IV PFD? Here is a list of ways how you can care for your type IV PFD:
Store Away From Direct Sunlight
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays and peak temperatures could result in type IV PFD to deteriorate much faster.
Inspect It For Tears/Rips/Holes
The outer shell could develop tears and holes eventually with time and the inner part that is made of polyurethane foam might deform and shrink as a result of that. You need to identify the issues in prime time and then replace the PFD.
Tip: Which is a characteristic of a type III life jacket? Such jackets are a floatation aid that is designed mainly for the calm, inland waters - places where there's a chance of a quick rescue.
Rinse It Properly
This rule applies the same for a wetsuit and kayak as well! Make sure to rinse the PFD if it has been in saltwater.
Enable It To Dry Prior To Storing It
You would want to prevent water-logging as it could lead to active degradation/discoloration. There could also be potential odor and mold as well.
To Wrap It Up!
Personal Floatation Devices are a great deal helpful when venturing far off into the water. They can be used in times of emergency.
Thank you for reading this article till the end. I hope you found the information regarding “what is the main advantage of a type iv pfd” to be useful.
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