US Coast Guard Issues Safety Alert for Life Jackets

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Safety Alert regarding a potential danger with Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). During several inspections involving different vessels, Coast Guard personnel discovered more than 100 type 1 PFDs would have presented a problem for users if needed in an emergency. The securing strap was secured at its bitter end, and was also fused to the side of the PFD by what appeared to be the shell coating or color-matching material. As a result, the PFD could not be separated into halves to open space for a user’s head. Based on the number of problematic PFDs discovered, the Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners and operators using this type of PFD inspect each one for this condition. If problematic PFDs are discovered, owners and operators should report their findings to the Coast Guard.