Final answer:
Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are not approved for children under 16 or non-swimmers. Their designations, such as Type III or Type V, specify suitable activities, with restrictions due to safety concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are not approved for persons who are under 16 years of age or for those who cannot swim.
Inflatable PFDs are a type of life jacket which can be manually or automatically inflated to provide buoyancy in the water. However, their use is subject to certain restrictions due to safety concerns. For instance, they are not intended for use by children or non-swimmers because these individuals may not be able to manually activate the device in an emergency situation.
Type of PFD Restrictions
It is important to be aware that inflatable PFDs have different designations, such as Type III or Type V, which specify the activities they are suitable for. Recreational boaters often use Type III while Type V is for specific activities like sailboarding or kayaking.