Introduction:
To guarantee safety in activities involving water, it is essential to use personal flotation devices (PFDs). PFDs must work correctly. They must stay buoyant and must not fail during their lifetime of service. They are like all safety equipment and have a limited lifespan. Unlike hard hats, which can sometimes be re-formed and made to serve well again, PFDs that have been rent or have served their time must be taken out of service. Unlike life jackets, which are PFDs, life preserver rings and buoyant tether are not PFDs. I know of six reasons not to count on PFDs in the long run: demeanor, age, damage, loom (or lack of it), dirt, and wear and tear.
Deterioration of substances:
The main factor in the wear on personal flotation devices (PFDs) is the slow but sure degradation of the materials of which they are made. Most PFDs are made with outer fabrics that are durable, like nylon or polyester. They are filled with buoyant materials, such as closed-cell foam. Both the fabrics and the foams are synthetic, and they are largely polymeric. The wear on a PFD is, then, in essence, the breakdown of the polymers in the unfriendly environment of sun, water, and air. PFDs must be stored out of the sunlight when not in use. A marine storage facility can offer the best protection, although a basement or other interior space will do. Sunlight carries much of the unfriendly ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can cause synthetic floatation devices to deteriorate.
A PFD’s material properties can be affected by excessive heat or cold. The very hot weather we sometimes experience can degrade the PFD’s materials and reduce its buoyancy. Conversely, an ice-cold PFD can be so stiff and brittle that it is only a fraction of a second away from cracking if you were to drop it (an activity that would likely warm it up and reduce the likelihood of cracking).
Physical damage:
Another reason for PFD degradation is physical use and tear. When PFDs are used frequently, they can and do wear out. All the laws of physics apply to a PFD just as they do to any other object. Hence, the basic types of physical damage incurred by PFDs are as follows:
- Abrasion: The constant wear of friction is experienced by a PFD used frequently. A PFD can experience this type of physical damage if, for example, a person falls from a boat and skims along the side of the vessel, bumping up against the surface of the boat and other equipment.
- Impact Damage: Falling may cause a person to land on top of a PFD, squashing it against a hard surface just prior to entering the water. Used in this way, a PFD is functioning more like a “crash zone” than a flotation device, which means the foam inside the PFD is not going to be able to provide the same level of service and protection to a person who has been subjected to a “hard landing.”
- Inadequate Storage: PFDs also suffer damage from being improperly stored when not in use. The moisture of a damp, packed-away PFD can lead to the development of mildew that can really eat away at the fabric.
Operational stress:
The efficacy of a personal flotation device (PFD) is based not only on the materials used to make it but also on the conditions under which it is employed. One factor that is often overlooked when considering the causes of PFD failure is operational stress. This stress has three components: the number of times the device is used, the types of water conditions in which it is employed, and the behavior of the wearer. Each affects how long a PFD might last. The stress of use is often not considered, but it is a significant factor leading to PFD failure.
Biological factors:
Wear on personal flotation devices comes from biological factors too. When moisture leads to biological growth, the following can occur:
- Mold and Mildew: In persistent moisture, PFDs can develop a covering of mold and mildew, especially on the fabric exterior of the PFD. Not only could this affect the appearance and odor of the PFD, but it could also threaten the integrity of the fabric and other materials used to construct the PFD.
- Marine Life: In saltwater, lifeforms such as barnacles can attach to PFDs. Barnacles could threaten the PFD’s buoyancy with localized damage. Besides barnacles, other marine life could also affect the comfort and fit of the PFD.
Recommendations for prolonging PFD lifespan:
The better we comprehend what causes personal flotation devices (PFDs) to prematurely reach the end of their useful life, the more we can practice and promote effective maintenance and care that will keep PFDs serviceable for as long as possible and the users of those devices safe. What follows is an effort to describe the “wear life” of a PFD. It is not a picture of the maximum number of days that a PFD can serve before it must be replaced but rather a painting of the minimum number of days, with a brush dipped in the colors of what leads to a PFD’s wear and tear.
Personal flotation devices should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. They should be suspended or stored flat, since anything that leads to a compressive deformation of the buoyant material can impair the flotation device’s performance. Care and maintenance, including weights and usage limits, are also important to follow, since improperly used or maintained flotation devices can fail when needed most. PFDs have a respectable safety record, but like any other safety equipment, they are only as good as their design and condition.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, water safety relies on an assortment of components, but there is no substitute for the personal flotation device. It is a necessary second skin when a person finds themselves unexpectedly submerged in water. Efficacy over time is a different story, though. Most people probably aren’t aware that a PFD isn’t intended to last forever. Like golf clubs, they are made to be used and when that wear and tear is not noticeable to the human eye, it is often more prevalent in materials that are not supposed to be seen. For younger adults, suspicion is often directed towards what happens when a human uses something to the point of excessive. Most will see that first sentence and not think twice about it. PFDs are crucial.