To maintain buoyancy of the inflatable PFD, an _________ ____________ tube is provided.

• A. Automatic Release Tube
• B. Manual Inflation Tube
• C. Water-Activated Tube
• D. Pressure Relief Tube

Answer: (B)

Inflatable PFDs rely on an air bladder to provide buoyancy, and you need a way to fill that bladder. The manual inflation tube is the path you use to blow air into the bladder by mouth, giving you direct control to establish or restore buoyancy when needed. This is especially useful if the automatic system hasn’t activated or if you need to top off air after initial inflation. The other tube types serve different roles—automatic or water-activated tubes trigger inflation themselves, a pressure relief tube vents excess air, and a release tube is part of the mechanism that activates inflation—not the act of inflating for buoyancy.