Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 85; Flight Crew Total 7000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Situational Awareness; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Equipment / Tooling; Manuals; Company Policy; Procedure
Prior to boarding; the FA (Flight Attendant) notified me that there were 4 infant passengers that would be on our flight. She also stated that there were only 3 infant life vests on board the aircraft. I relayed this information to the Gate Agent and she told me she was aware of the situation and would notify a manager. A few minutes later; a manager came to the aircraft and told me that she would not be able to deny boarding and I told her that I would call Dispatch to see what could be done. The Dispatcher and I read the FA manual pertaining to infants and found a statement that allows additional infants to be carried as long as there is an open seat adjacent to the child without a life vest. This statement caused concern for Dispatch; the FA and I because it seemed out of touch with the safety culture. In the unlikely scenario where we were to ditch the airplane in the water; a person traveling with an infant is expected to evacuate the airplane through an over-wing exit while carrying their infant and 2 seat bottom cushions. We also thought of how difficult it would be for an adult clinging to their cushion in the water while somehow trying to put their infant onto another cushion. We agreed that the information contained in the manuals was not very clear on this subject and decided the safest course of action would be to have Maintenance bring us an extra life vest. We incurred a 10 minute delay. Took safest course of action when the manuals/procedures lacked clear instructions. The information pertaining to this subject is contained in AOM (Aircraft Operating Manual) 2 under the miscellaneous chapter. This was difficult to find and should be copied to the AOM 1 or FOM (Flight Operations Manual) so that it can be accessed easily during a situation such as this. The manual also does not specifically state that a seat bottom cushion should be used as a flotation device for an infant.
EMB-145 Captain reported being notified by the Flight Attendant that the aircraft was short 1 child life vest prior to departure.