The LRU-12/A is also equipped with a hand pump for manually inflating the two-section flotation tube and/or the inflatable seat and is stowed in the accessory container. The pumpattaching fitting and the topping-off valve are designed to allow a positive connection. To use the hand pump, follow the steps listed below:

NOTE: In the absence of a CO 2 type of inflation system, manual inflation starts with the seat section. It fills quickly and provides flotation for the raft while the main flotation tubes are being inflated. 

l Screw the inflation end of the assembly hose of the hand pump into the topping-off valve (fig. 5-23).

Figure 5-23.\Survivor holding the hand pump while attaching the assembly hose to the topping-off valve.

. Turn the topping-off valve cap 1 1/2 turns to the right when the assembly hose is attached. 

. Pump the handle until desired inflation is achieved. 

. Then turn the valve cap 1 1/2 turns to the left. 

. Remove the hand pump and secure it in the accessory container.

NOTE: The main flotation tube is divided into two separate sections by an internal bulkhead. This design feature prevents the life raft from completely deflating if for some reason the tube is punctured.

Righting Procedures.\ The LRU-12/A life raft may inflate upside down. To correct this problem proceed as follows:

1. Locate the righting line on the side of the raft opposite the CO2 bottle.

2. Toss it over the life raft on the side where the CO2 bottle is located.

3. Grasp the righting line and climb onto the bottom of the raft. Pull the righting line from the far side and at the same time stand up and push the near side of the life raft away with your feet. This will cause the life raft to flip over.

Boarding Procedures.\ In most cases, there are four or more survivors in the water. Upon reaching the life raft, grasp the lifeline to keep the raft from drifting away until your turn to board. Use the boarding stirrup and the boarding handles at the stem to board the life raft; survivors should board one at a time.

The first survivor to board the life raft should assist the remaining survivors and ensure the life raft loading is balanced to protect against overturning.

LRU-15/A LIFE RAFT ASSEMBLY.\ The LRU-15/A life raft assembly (fig. 5-23) consists of a 20-man life raft and an inflation assembly (C O2 cylinder with an inflation valve). The raft is orange and has two single compartments, circular flotation tubes connected by an equalizer tube, a noninflatable floor suspended between the two flotation tubes, and two boarding ramps. One ramp is attached to each tube on opposite sides of the raft. The floor has an inflatable floor support. The life raft also features a sea anchor, a lifeline, boarding handles, and topping-off valves located on each side of the flotation tubes and floor support. The life raft and accessory container are contained in the LRU-15/A carrying case. The life raft assembly is stowed either in an accessible area inside the fuselage (droppable type) or in a life raft compartment (wing or fuselage installation) of the aircraft.

Inflation Procedures.\ The wing-installed LRU-15/A life raft assembly is automatically ejected and inflated from the life raft compartment of the aircraft when the compartment door is released. To inflate the droppable LRU-15/A life raft, you perform the following steps: 

. Locate the inflation assembly actuating handle outside the end flap of the carrying case. 

l Pull the actuating handle with sufficient force to actuate the inflation assembly. Ensure that adequate space is provided for the raft to inflate.

NOTE: This is a very large life raft and should never be inflated inside an aircraft.

Righting Procedures.\ Because of the large size and cumbersome configuration of the LRU-15/A life raft, it is designed with identical components on each side so that the raft is always right side up.

Boarding Procedures.\ Survivors should board the LRU-15/A using the boarding ramps on the lower flotation tube (boarding is possible over the ramp attached to the upper tube but is extremely difficult and therefore not recommended). As you board the life raft, grasp the handles provided and kick with your feet to pull yourself into the life raft. Boarding can be accomplished more easily and quickly if survivors are assisted by those who board first.

The first person in the life raft is responsible for installing the equalizer clamp. The clamp is in a pocket located next to the equalizer tube. The equalizer clamp is necessary to prevent the life raft from completely deflating in the event one side of the life raft has a tear or puncture.

RAFTSMANSHIP.\ We assume that with all the advanced rescue equipment and technology available to the Navy, a rescue can be effected in a few hours. However, the possibility exists that you may spend days or even weeks at sea.

Common sense is the best survival tool you will have aboard the life raft. The following dos and don'ts will help you survive in a life raft at sea.

Dos.\ The following are helpful things to do while you are trying to survive in a life raft at sea: 

l Stow all sharp objects and equipment that might abrade or puncture the raft fabric. 

. Ensure all survival equipment is tied to the life raft. This prevents loss if any item is dropped over the side. 

. Secure yourself and other survivors to the raft, in case it capsizes. Rough water or a strong wind can easily separate a raft from a survivor. 

l Ration all food and water. Rationing should be based on the minimum amount of food and water that will sustain life. 

. Inventory all supplies daily. 

. Take every precaution to prevent the life raft from turning over. 

. Sit low in the life raft and distribute the weight to hold the weather side down. 

l If there is more than one life raft, tie them together. When tieing life rafts together, you should tie the first life raft at the stern and the second one to the bow. Since the LRU-15/A has no bow or stem, tie them together at any available point. If there are more than two LRU-15/A life rafts, the ties should be 180 degrees apart on the center raft. l Allow approximately 25 feet of lin e

between the life rafts; adjust the length of the line to correspond with the state of the sea. l Adjust the sea anchor line so that the sea

anchor will stay in the trough when the raft is at the crest of a wave. l In very rough weather, keep a spare sea

anchor rigged and ready for instant use in case the one that is deployed breaks loose. A spare sea anchor will have to be improvised as no spare is furnished; however, a paulin, casualty blanket, or signal panel can be used for this purpose. 

. Be prepared to catch any rainfall, because water is essential to survival at sea.

_Don'ts. \ The following are some things that you should not do while trying to survive in a life raft at sea: 

. Never eat any food unless an adequate amount of freshwater is available. The reason is that digestion depletes the body's fluid level. A person in relatively good physical condition can survive only about 6 days without water but can survive up to 40 days without food. . Never drink seawater; it will cause nausea and vomiting, which further depletes the body's water level, and will eventually cause death. Seawater will not quench your thirst; it will increase your thirst. 

l When fishing never tie your fishing line to the side of the life raft. A large fish can capsize your life raft. 

l Never tie your fish catch to the life raft.

You are inviting a larger fish to a meal. 

. When you are using the Mk 13 day/night distress signal, never hold it near your life raft. The burning material will drip and can burn a hole in the flotation tube or the floor of the life raft. 

. Avoid unnecessary moving around inside the life raft.

These are just a few dos and don'ts. By using common sense you will be able to add to this list.

_{Rafting Ashore.} \ Going ashore in a strong surf is dangerous. Take your time. Select the landing point carefully. Try not to land when the sun is low and straight in front of you. Try to land on the lee side of an island or on a point of land. Keep your eyes open for gaps in the surf line and head for them. Avoid coral reefs and rocky cliffs. Coral reefs do not occur near the mouths of freshwater streams. Avoid rip currents or strong tidal currents, which may carry you far out to sea. Either signal shore for help or sail around and look for a sloping beach where the surf is gentle. If you must go through surf to reach shore, keep your clothes and shoes on to avoid severe cuts. Adjust and inflate your life vest. Trail the sea anchor over the stern using all the available line. This will keep the life raft pointed toward the shore and prevent the sea from throwing the stern around and capsizing the life raft. Surf may be irregular and velocity may vary, so the procedure must be modified as conditions demand.

If you have a choice, do not land at night. If you have reason to believe that the shore is inhabited, lie away from the beach and signal; then wait for the inhabitants to come out and bring you in.