What is included in the pre-departure inspections for escape slides?

The inclusion of checking that the girt bar is correctly stowed in pre-departure inspections for escape slides is vital for ensuring the safety and functionality of the slide in an emergency situation. The girt bar is the component that connects the escape slide to the aircraft, allowing it to deploy correctly. If the girt bar is not secured or properly stowed, it can lead to malfunctions during an emergency evacuation, compromising passenger safety.

In this context, ensuring the girt bar is correctly stowed confirms that the slide is ready to deploy successfully when needed, and the inspection helps to prevent any potential issues that may arise during the evacuation process. This is a critical step in the pre-departure checks, as the effectiveness of evacuation slides is integral to the safety procedures on an aircraft.