What is the recommended action if a flight attendant discovers a defective life vest?

If a flight attendant discovers a defective life vest, the recommended action is to report it to the captain. This is crucial because the captain is responsible for the overall safety and operational integrity of the flight. By informing the captain about the defective equipment, appropriate actions can be taken to address the issue, ensuring that all safety equipment is functional before the flight takes off. The captain can then decide whether to replace the defective vest or take other actions as needed. This chain of communication ensures that safety protocols are followed effectively.

In this context, simply replacing the life vest immediately or notifying the cabin crew would not ensure that the issue is escalated to the person in charge of overall flight safety. Removing the vest from the jumpseat could lead to a situation where there’s insufficient safety equipment available in case of an emergency, thereby compromising passenger safety. Reporting to the captain is the most responsible and effective approach in this scenario.