Topic: Personal Flotation Devices
Concept: When you have to wear a PFD, Understanding differences
between various types of PFD's, How to find a PFD that fits you, Testing
the PFD
Skill:
1. Know when to wear a PFD
2. Distinguishing between PFD's
3. Fitting PFD's
4. Testing PFD's
Objective: Students will be educated on how and why PFD' s are essential in boating and water sports, they will be able to recognize various PFD's, know how to fit a PFD and finally how to test the PFD's in a water setting.
Lesson Activity:
Materials Needed: 30 PFD's ( Type III), 1 pool
Teacher will begin the day with a class discussion of PFD's. In a later
lesson the students will be exposed to the water-skiing laws pertaining
to PFD's , but for now students must understand that each state has their
own laws regarding PFD requirements. We will focus on Washington's but
for extra credit, the students can find the requirements on the internet,
books, or magazines ( must be documented) and receive one point for every
state requirements they bring in --- that can give them 49 (cannot include
Washington) bonus points which may help some of them in their portfolio
project or their mid-term test.
Washington requires the operators and passengers along with water-skiers
to have PFD's on while in the boat. For your information you can
find all the States
Requirements by just clicking the highlighted text.
The key points to be made to the student concerning wearing the PFD's are listed below:
Task cards can be used in class to show the students the PFD's if they are not available in the PE department. They can be found at Developmental Analysis Home Page .
3. Choosing a PFD for yourself or Family Member:
PFD's are made to fit so that when they are put on the chin and ears
will not slip through if the person was lifted upward by the shoulders.
To work properly, the PFD should fit snugly.
Testing the PFD's in Water:
Students will be instructed to find a partner and get a PFD that they
feel is a correct fit. They will enter the shallow end of the pool together
with their PFD's on, if it is a proper fit it should stay in place and
not ride up or slip over the chin. To work properly, the partners need
to make sure that the PFD is fastened completely and any loose ends are
tucked away. To check to buoyancy, have the students tilt their heads back
and relax their bodies. The PFD should keep the chin above the water and
should be able to breathe easily. If the mouth is not way above water the
student should select a different PFD.
After every student has checked their and their partner's PFD's and
they pass all the tests, the students perform the final check test. Both
students go to the deep end of the pool and jump in ( one at a time) feet
first from a platform about the same height as the boat would be. The PFD
should not ride up and try to pop off over the head.
In order for students to understand how throw able PFD's work, teacher
should set up various spots in the pool in which the students have to heave
the floats ( life rings, boat cushions) as accurately as they can towards
the target ( PFD's should be worn by all students on the pool deck ---
it also would be nice for the teacher to wear them also to practice what
they are preaching!!)
Safety Issues in A Pool Setting: ( This may take an entire class period
but it is defiantly worth the wait)
1. A lifeguard should be on hand at all times in the pool.
2. No running on pool deck.
3. PFD's must be on students at all times.
4. When students hear a whistle from teacher they must freeze where
they are ( protocols must be developed at the beginning of the year).
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