Life jacket - a guarantee of safety on the water

Called to protect a person's life, organizations always recommend using a life jacket when traveling on water. Many people take the presence of such a thing in their boat as a necessary means of safety, they acquire it and are always at hand, but rarely pay attention to the quality of the waistcoat, let alone carry it.

Kinds

The basic classification is made according to who will wear the life jacket: first of all they are divided into men's, women's and children's. Further - according to the principle of action: will it be an auxiliary, only supporting on the water, helping to cope with the elements of a person already able to swim, or rescue, that is, completely to keep afloat. The peculiarity of the first is that it will not save you if you have lost consciousness, it requires certain movements, but the life jacket is designed so that the person's head will always be above the surface of the water, and certainly face up. As you can see, the last design is more reliable and will not allow choking. Usually the type is indicated on the waistcoat in the form of an inscription about whether it can support a person unconscious, and on what mass is calculated. In addition, some types provide for thermal insulation and other properties.

Where to buy a life jacket and how to choose?

Such funds are sold in all stores selling goods for hunting and fishing, as well as in sports stores. The main characteristics that you should pay attention to when buying a life jacket are safety, comfort and buoyancy. Do not buy a variety of "improved" options like a life saver combined with a backpack: while you risk drowning. The first thing you should do is try on the waistcoat, it should sit comfortably on you, not constraining movements. Usually it has additional accessories in the form of belts and fasteners, which will help to fit it to your physique. Another important characteristic is the color, best if it is noticeable and conspicuous, so your chances of escaping will increase. A rescue vest ("Fisherman" -1.2) of orange color is perfect, because if you get into trouble far from the shore, people will notice and pull you out. It is also important to remember that the design does not allow the presence of unnecessary parts that can impede movement in water, such as cords, loose loops and belts.

Inflatable or foam plastic?

More familiar and walking inflatable lifejackets have proven themselves, as they take up little space in the blown condition, and if necessary they can be inflated to the state in which you will be comfortable in it. But there is a huge risk, because it is worth piercing it, as it will immediately become a useless thing from a life-saving device. Especially it is dangerous if a person is unconscious, any stick or hook can deprive him of a chance to survive. Therefore, if you are a fisherman dealing with sharp objects in the form of hooks, then such a choice is not for you. More reliable in this regard are waistcoats made of light foam materials, they not only have a high buoyancy, but also are not afraid of punctures or scratches.