Stearns 4430 manual

DO NOT REMOVE PRIOR TO SALE! Model Nos. 4430 or 6340 – OWNER’S MANUAL HIGH WEARABILITY TYPE V USER ASSISTED INFLATABLE BELT PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE ADULT UNIVERSAL – FOR PERSONS OVER 80 POUNDS I. APPROVAL CONDITIONS and CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS This inflatable belt is approved by the U S Coast Guard as a Type V User Assisted Personal Flotation[...]

2 SPECIFICATIONS Chest size: 30-52 inches Weight range: over 80 pounds Age Range: 16 years and older Buoyancy (minimum): 15.5 pounds after CO 2 inflation 22.5 pounds after full inflation. (See Donning and Inflation instructions pages 7 & 8.) Inflation System: Manual Inflation Mechanism (located on front of chamber) Oral Tube (located on front o[...]

3 II. CONDITIONS FOR TYPE V APPROVAL Conditional approvals are granted by the Coast Guard for PFDs that: 1. Do not meet all the requirements for approval under the Type I through IV categories, but offer other significant safety features, or 2. Have features or uses not found in Types I through IV PFDs that require special user knowledge. The condi[...]

4 MANDATORY CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS Federal Regulations in 33 CFR 175-1993 require you to carry Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) legibly marked with the Coast Guard approval number, which are in good and serviceable condition, and are the correct size for each person on board. To be considered serviceable, this PFD shall not exh[...]

5 2. Examine the inflation mechanism status indicators . The indicator will tell you if the inflation mechanism is properly ARMED/REARMED and ready for activation. If the indicator shows RED, the mechanism is not ready to fire, and you must rearm the mechanism to set the indicator to GREEN. Refer to rearming instructions on Pages 11 and 12, and on [...]

6 OTHER USE GUIDE LINES - STUDY this manual and practice using your belt to become thoroughly familiar with its features and operation. Your inflatable PFD will not provide buoyancy until you inflate it. See Pages 17 and 18 for testing your PFD. ALWAYS re-arm the CO 2 inflation system after each discharge. The CO 2 cylinder is good for only one inf[...]

7 DONNING and INFLATION INSTRUCTIONS After completing the pre-donning check, follow these instructions to don, inflate and adjust the PFD for maximum performance. 1. Loosen Shoulder Straps . Insert left arm between back strap and deflated vest (See fig.1). Pull vest on over your head (See fig.2). Pull buckle to front so you can see it. Buckle and a[...]

8 Donning and Inflation Instructions – cont’d 4. Adjust the length of the neck strap for desired comfort and head support. Pull down on the adjustment strap to tighten, or lift up the plastic slide to loosen. Shoulder Straps may need to be Loosened to adjust Waist Strap. 5. After CO 2 inflation, the performance of the PFD may be satisfactory wi[...]

9 MAXIMIZING PERFORMANCE Why should someone do this? It is important to learn how to use this PFD in the water. Try your PFD in the water before attempting to use it in deep water or in an emergency to find out what position and adjustments provide the best support for you. It is important, especially in cold water and wave conditions, to get your [...]

10 DEFLATION INSTRUCTIONS Deflating may be accomplished by inserting the deflation tool located on the dust cap into the end of the oral inflation tube while gently squeezing the inflation chamber. Reposition the dust cap over the end of the inflation tube after deflating to help protect the valve inside. DO NOT TWIST OR WRING INFLATABLE CHAMBER TO[...]

11 REARMING INSTRUCTIONS STEP 1 Unscrew used CO 2 cylinder in a counterclockwise direction and immediately discard . Do not insert new cylinder at this time. To avoid confusion later in the rearming process, we suggest you throw away the old CO 2 cylinder now. STEP 2 Close manual inflator arm within inflator body and carefully insert a new green in[...]

12 REARMING INSTRUCTIONS (cont.) Step 4 Inspect the face of the new cylinder . Be sure it is smooth and has no holes or scratches . There is a gross weight on the cylinder. If you have any questions about cylinder integrity, weigh the cylinder on a small scale, such as a postage scale. Compare the weight printed on the cylinder to the actual weight[...]

13 REPACKING INSTRUCTIONS Always dry out, deflate the PFD and rearm the inflation mechanism. Follow REARMING instructions prior to REPACKAGING. Step 1 (Fig. 1) Position as shown in Fig. 1. Reference General Arrangement on page 2. Step 2 (Fig. 2) Roll up the air chamber on top of the neck strap with mechanism remaining on top. Step 3 (Fig. 3) Close [...]

14 IV .IS Y O U R P F D IN G O O D AN D S E R V I CE AB L E CO N D I T IO N ? Check your PFD between outings to be sure that it is properly armed; that it is free of rips, tears or holes; that all seams are securely sewn; and that the fabric, straps and hardware are still strong. Check to be sure your cylinder is screwed in tight. Inspect the infla[...]

15 2. Oral Inflation Leak Test - This test should be performed every two months and at the start of each season. Inflate buoyancy chamber using the oral inflation valve and leave to rest for 16 hours. When buoyancy chamber remains firm and full of air there is no leakage and chamber is operational. If the chamber deflates during this leak test, it [...]

16 STORAGE • Store in clean, cool, dry area. • Do not store in direct sunlight. REPAIR If you have any question about the condition or integrity of this product call 1-800-STEARNS (1-800-783-2767). A damaged device must be repaired by certified Stearns Repair Facility or discarded. SERVICING Stearns strongly recommends that this device be inspe[...]

17 VII. HOW AND WHY TO TEST YOUR PFD? Inflate your PFD and try it out in the water to: • Make sure it floats you: Comfortably (When worn properly) Adequately for expected wave conditions (Body shapes/densities affect performance) • Make sure it works: A flow of bubbles should not appear (See Section V for leak tests) It should inflate quick and[...]

18 HOW DO YOU TEST YOUR PFD USING THE ORAL INFLATOR? 1. To test your inflatable PFD, you will not need any spare parts. 2. Remove the CO 2 cylinder to prevent inadvertent activation of the manual inflation which could potentially damage the PFD. Inspect the threaded end to confirm it’s un-used. 3. Put on the PFD. 4. Get into shallow water, just d[...]

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20 VIII. WEAR YOUR PFD In approximately 80 percent of all boating fatalities, the victims were not wearing a PFD. Most fatal accidents happen on calm sunny days. This inflatable PFD is much more comfortable to wear than other PFD types. Get into the habit of wearing this PFD. Non-swimmers and children especially should wear a hybrid or non-inflatab[...]

21 Some Points to Remember About Hypothermia Protection: 1. Always wear your PFD. Even if you become incapacitated due to hypothermia, the PFD will keep you afloat and greatly improve your chances of rescue. 2. Do not attempt to swim unless it is to reach a nearby craft, fellow survivor, or a floating object on which you can lean or climb. Swimming[...]

22 X. EACH OF THESE DEVICES IS INTENDED TO HELP YOU SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE For your PFD to function properly follow these suggestions to verify that it fits, floats and remains in good condition. 1. Check the CO 2 cylinder inflation mechanism status indicator before each use. 2. Get in the habit of rearming the inflation mechanism immediately after eac[...]

23 DO NOT ATTACH PFDs TO YOUR BOAT Each PFD has straps, hooks, buckles, or other means for securing the device in place on the wearer. Some PFDs also incorporate decorative Dee rings or tabs. Such items are not to be used to attach the device to the boat. Attaching the device to the boat will not permit it to function as intended. CO 2 PERMEATION L[...]