Life Jackets

Boating gear and clothing changes frequently, according not only to new technology, but also to fads in fashion. Some people care what they look like, some don't. Many invest in the most expensive clothing they can afford, either because they think it looks good or that they believe it is the best quality. Whatever your thinking is, there is one item of gear/clothing that you should get right - your Life Jacket! (Personal Flotation Device - PFD). It is the one item of personal protective equipment (PPE) that the RNLI crews have to wear and it is worth remembering that your life may depend on it. Its purpose is simply, whether you are conscious or unconscious, to keep you afloat.

Primitive Life Jackets
The most ancient examples of life jackets were inflated bladders of animal skins or hollow gourds, which gave support to people crossing rivers or deep streams. They were not part of the equipment issued to naval sailors until the early 19th century. Maybe the authorities were afraid that press-ganged sailors would use them to jump ship and escape.

It was in 1854 that the forerunner to the modern life jacket was created, by a Captain Walker, a RNLI inspector in the UK, who produced a cork vest to be worn by lifeboat crews. The rigid cork must have been very uncomfortable to wear and was superseded by pouches of watertight cells filled with kapok. These provided good buoyancy and were extensively used by the navy, but they could easily become compressed and were eventually replaced by jackets filled with foam.

The Mae West was the common nickname for the first inflatable life preserver, which was invented by Peter Markus in 1928, the nickname obviously referring to the physical appearance of those wearing the device, and being compared with the well known actress. They were used by the RAF in the Battle of Britain, but Air Sea Rescue Services frequently found pilots lying face-down in fully inflated jackets, so obviously more research was needed to ensure that victims floated face-up. Much research in design improvements was conducted in the UK by Macintosh and Pask. Edgar Pask, of Newcastle University, could be deservedly called the father of the modern life jacket, due to his pioneering and often brave research. All of the Life Jacket standards stem from his work, which earned him an OBE. The British Standard BS3595, introduced in 1963 has been copied and modified all over the world.

The Royal Navy Talbot Report in 1946 revealed that 30-40,000 officers and men had died at sea during the Second World War. Two thirds of these had drowned during the survival phase due to poor equipment. As a result of an extensive research programme, the new RFD Admiralty pattern 5580 Inflatable Life Jacket was introduced into the Royal Navy in 1952, and copied worldwide.

We have the RNLI to thank for much of the modern Life Jacket design and innovation. They started using inflatable Beaufort Life Jackets in 1970. These gave increased buoyancy around the neck, ensuring that a crew member would float face upwards even if knocked unconscious. In spite of its important advantages, it proved very bulky and made it difficult to move around in the cramped conditions of a life boat. Modern life jackets, developed in the 1990's, have been developed to provide maximum comfort and safety, but even these will be superseded shortly, as the RNLI develop their new life jackets, with more comfort and added specifications.

Facts about modern Life Jackets
An essential point is to make sure your life jacket fits correctly. It should be a snug fit, but not so tight that it makes wearing it uncomfortable. You may then be tempted not to wear it.

Crotch straps are designed to keep the jacket from riding up when worn in the water, or even from allowing the wearer to slip out of the jacket completely. A life jacket should always have crotch straps and they should always be worn! Many accidents have occurred when this rule has not been adhered to. The straps should be adjustable and be sized to fit snugly between the wearer's legs, tight enough to hold the jacket down, but loose enough to allow movement. Some jackets have adjustable back straps, and thigh straps are a feature on others.

A headrest flap helps to support the head and keep it out of the water and a grab handle is sometimes attached, to help lift the wearer up.

The air cell or bladder can be inflated by pulling a cord to trigger the release of carbon dioxide gas from a canister, or the cell can be inflated or toped-up orally by blowing into a flexible tube with a one-way valve to seal the air in the cell. Some inflatable jackets are auto-inflatable, having a device that detects water. This triggers a firing mechanism to allow the Co2 canister to inflate the bladder. These life jackets are completely dependable upon the Automatic Inflation device being in a ready state: i.e. 1. The cylinder must be correctly inserted and tightened. 2. The cylinder must be of the correct type and full. 3. A bobbin pin must be inserted into the inflator as instructed by the manufacturer. These inflators need regular checks.

Don't be too put off by stories of auto-inflators going off on board. It does happen, but only in extreme conditions. It happened to my husband on one occasion, but he was in a severe gale in the Southern Ocean. If you do decide on an auto-inflator, you should take spare gas cylinders and a spare inflator with you, as once your life-jacket has been used, it becomes next to useless.

Most life jackets are also fitted with a whistle for attracting attention, and a light which is activated when in contact with the water. Splash or face shields, or spray-hoods with clear see-through vinyl, can be used to cover the head and face and protect them from the waves. SOLAS approved reflective tape aids night recognition. Some jackets, suited to those taking long sea voyages, have attachment points for equipment to help survival and to make the wearer more obvious and aid location.

A harness with D ring attachments for a life line is an essential part of the Life Jacket, and if used sensibly it may prevent you falling into the water in the first place.

How do you choose? Life Jackets and Buoyancy Aids are tested and rated to specific European Standards and split into CE categories. These divide the products into different Newton classes with its own designated number, such as EN396. Newton is the unit of buoyancy with the abbreviation N. So the first decision to make is how much buoyancy do you need? This will depend on several things:
• The type of waters - inshore, coastal or offshore.
• Whether you are likely to be able to help yourself.
• What the sea conditions are likely to be.
• Whether they will be required to self-right an unconscious person wearing waterproof clothing.
• Whether they need to protect the airway of an unconscious person in rough water.

The EU has standardised the classifications for life jackets and buoyancy aids into the accepted EN classes of 50N and 100N for buoyancy aids, and 150N and 275N for life jackets, under the framework of the International Standards Organisation (ISO). The initial ISO 12402 standard was proposed in 2006 and sets out the performance standards applicable to leisure and commercial vessels. It is intended to serve as a guide for all manufacturers and purchasers worldwide, ensuring the products provide an effective standard of performance.

Life Jackets with a 275 Newton Rating are the ones preferred by those travelling well offshore or on ocean passages and in challenging conditions. Those with 150 Newton Rating are designed to give protection to inshore and offshore travellers in all but the most severe conditions. There are jackets with ratings between these two, so shop around and choose the one most suited to you and your needs.

Don't forget the children and pets Life Jackets are readily available for children and animals. Make sure you have the correct size. Don't cram a beloved child into last year's jacket, or a hand-me-down, to save buying a new one, unless you are sure it will do the job. Also don't expect them to agree to wear theirs if you don't wear yours. (See article Kids - keeping them safe on the water)

Finally
If you have it - wear it! It will be no good to anyone stowed at the bottom of a locker. It can't do its job, saving your life, if it's not worn.


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