Guidelines for use

• Once it's adjusted to fit you perfectly, put your name on your Hutchwilco PFD. This way it won't get confused with anyone else’s.
• Get to know your PFD – on dry land and in the water. Familiarise yourself with its features and how it performs in active duty.
• Get into the habit of wearing your PFD. Statistics show that in approximately 80% of all boating fatalities, the victim wasn’t wearing a lifejacket. In particular, non-swimmers and children should wear one at all times when on the water.
• Remember that lifejackets are far easier to put on before you get into the water.
• Treat your PFD with respect. Don’t use it as a cushion, fender or kneeling pad.
• Inspect your Hutchwilco PFD from time to time, to check for tears and damage that might impair its performance.
• Don’t attempt to modify your PFD. A modified device is no longer Standards Approved or covered by warranty.

Guidelines for care

• To clean, sponge with warm soapy water and dry thoroughly.
• Don’t dry clean or use cleaning solvents.
• Dry away from direct sunlight or other direct heat sources.
• When not in use, store in a cool, well ventilated, dry location away from direct sunlight and harmful chemicals (such as battery acid).

PFD’s and children

• It is important to teach children how to put on their PFD’s and explain what they are for.
• Children should also be allowed to try them out in the water, so they’ll be familiar with how the jacket feels when it's floating.
• Parents must remember that a PFD is not a substitute for competent supervision.
• Children are difficult to float in a face up position because of the distribution of body mass and because panic can cause them to attempt to ‘climb out’ of the water. While violent arm and leg movement can reduce the stability of the PFD, a properly designed and fitted one will keep the mouth and nose clear of the water.

Survival

• Ensure your PFD is a good fit and does not ride up in the water.
• If it isn’t possible to wear your PFD at all times, store it in an easily accessible place.
• When taking guests on board, ensure there are enough lifejackets for everyone. Familiarise your guests with where they are kept and how they work.
• In the event of a swamping or capsize, stay with your boat – it will be more easily found by rescuers.
• The chilling effect of immersion in cold water for an extended period of time (hypothermia) can be fatal. Wearing a wetsuit or a woollen jumper next to your skin will help reduce the risk of hypothermia. Adopting a foetal position on the water also helps to slow the loss of body heat.
• The effectiveness of your PFD may be reduced in rough or breaking seas and surf.

The Hutchwilco Warranty