Jackets
A life jacket is practically the most essential piece of clothing around. Since accidents happen during the times when we least expect them to, it is comforting to know that there are certain things which serve to save the day.
If we think that infants and children do not really need life jackets, we are pushing our luck. Just because they are easy to carry in case of emergencies does not eliminate the necessity of life jackets. In fact, it is that important that during travel, passengers are always reminded about the availability of infant life jackets and baby life jackets.
Although buoyancy aids are a more popular water safety tool, it is not designed to take the place of life jackets. Even though they are made to perform the same function, they really have two different purposes. Buoyancy aids work to keep the user afloat. They provide maximum mobility, but are not designed to be able to turn the user over while in the water. Life jackets are a lot more reliable in life-threatening situations since they are capable of turning the user face up so as to avoid drowning.
Choosing the right baby life jacket is important since it will serve as the baby’s life-saving device. There are certain factors to consider when buying one. First, a correct fit will influence how effective the life jacket is going to be. Choose the size that is not too large for the baby. Sizes shouldn’t be those which the baby will eventually grow into someday.
A bigger life jacket does not mean that it performs better. Greater buoyancy though means bulkier. But bulky ones do not mean the better alternatives. In fact, these make re-boarding a lot harder.
Baby or children’s life jackets come in three types: foam life jackets, air and foam life jackets, and the air-only ones. In general, the foam type offers a buoyancy of 100N, and is appropriate for use inshore. Both air and foam, and air-only types adhere to standards of the 150N life jackets, and are considered to be suitable for use offshore.
The air-only life jackets are normally smaller, less heavy, and offer better comfort. However, this particular type does not have the buoyancy feature when not inflated. A gas cylinder is usually used to inflate this type of life jacket, and may be activated either automatically or manually. Once the jacket has been activated, a re-arming kit is required to set it back again.
Air and foam life jackets adhere to the 100N requirements through inherent buoyancy. For offshore use, an inflatable sole is activated to make it meet the 150N requirements. Most of the time, this type features night visibility through its retro-reflective tape.
Both the foam, and the air and foam types are typically bulkier than the third type. But, these two give inherent buoyancy, and are likely to the offer warmth and protection in case of fall.
Life jackets are worn as a means to save lives in water emergencies. These provide support by keeping the user afloat on their backs. The children’s life jackets are very crucial in keeping children safe while in the water. These typically come with whistle, which children can use to attract attention during emergency situations. Most of the time, these also feature built-in harness to ensure that these are held in place.
All of us know that accidents happen in a blur. Preventing such incidents is not easy. However, there are safety gadgets and tools at our disposal to make it a little less daunting. And because our babies mean the world to us, there’s nothing more important than keeping them safe at all times.