Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors; Manuals
We preflighted our emergency equipment; and saw that there was a seal on the package of live vests. I assumed that was there for a reason; and that the correct items were inside. When we had to distribute infant life vests and opened the package; there were none. We checked out our manual and saw that dual chamber life vests could be used for infants. The package contained only single chamber life vests; which specifically state not to use for less than 35 pounds. I called zone about this and so did the Captain. They said ORD was out of dual chamber life vests and infant life vests as well. They added that this had been an ongoing problem from the day before. It was deferred and logged. We [then] flew [two overwater legs] with no infant life vests! This is unacceptable and made us very uncomfortable. Thank God there was no incident!
Although before departure the reporter; a Flight Attendant; discovered and advised the flight crew and company that there were no certified suitable child live vests aboard the aircraft the round trip overwater flight was allowed to continue as there were no qualifying vests available at the station.