Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: When it has a torn strap
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Personal flotation devices, often called life jackets or PFDs, are critical safety equipment for activities on water such as boating, kayaking, or fishing. Safety guidelines emphasise not only wearing a PFD but also ensuring that it is in good condition. This question focuses on when a PFD should be discarded, meaning it should no longer be used because it may not provide adequate protection. Understanding this helps prevent accidents where a damaged PFD fails to keep a person afloat in an emergency.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key concept is that safety equipment must be structurally sound to function properly. A PFD works by trapping air or buoyant material to keep a person afloat. If the device is physically damaged, for example by a torn strap or ripped material, it may not stay securely attached or work as designed. Time alone, such as one month or one year of use, is not sufficient reason to discard a PFD if it remains in good condition and still meets safety standards. Being too small is a fit issue and means the PFD should not be used by that person, but it still may be safe for someone else of smaller size. The main criterion for discarding is damage that affects performance.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the purpose of a PFD is to provide flotation and keep the wearer safely above water.
Step 2: Consider situations that compromise this function. Physical damage like torn straps or ripped fabric can prevent the PFD from staying on or performing correctly.
Step 3: Evaluate the time based options. A PFD does not automatically fail after one month or one year of use if it is properly maintained.
Step 4: Evaluate the size issue. If a PFD is too small for one person, it is unsafe for that individual but could still be used by someone who fits the size range.
Step 5: Recognise that a torn strap indicates structural damage, meaning the PFD may detach or fail during an emergency.
Step 6: Conclude that a PFD should be discarded when it has a torn strap or similar damage that affects its ability to function.
Verification / Alternative check:
Boating safety guidelines and manuals typically advise users to inspect PFDs regularly for tears, punctures, broken straps, or damaged buckles. They emphasise discarding and replacing any PFD that shows such signs of damage, regardless of its age. These same sources mention that a PFD must also be the correct size for the wearer but do not require discarding a device solely because it is too small for one person, as it can be reassigned to someone else. This guidance confirms that structural damage like a torn strap is the clear trigger for discarding.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
When it is too small: A PFD that is too small for one person should not be used by that individual but can still be used by someone else in the correct size range, so it does not automatically need to be discarded.
When it has been used 1 year: The age alone does not determine safety. Properly maintained PFDs can be used beyond one year as long as they remain in good condition and meet safety standards.
When it has been used 1 month: One month is too short a period to justify discarding a PFD on time alone, so this option is not reasonable.
Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is assuming that there is a fixed time limit after which all safety equipment must be thrown away, regardless of condition. Another is confusing fit issues with structural damage. A PFD that is too small is indeed unsafe for a particular wearer but not necessarily unusable for everyone. To avoid mistakes, focus on whether the device is physically intact and functional. Any visible damage that could prevent the PFD from working as designed is a strong reason to discard and replace it.
Final Answer:
A personal flotation device should be discarded when it is damaged, for example When it has a torn strap.
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