Life Jackets

A life jacket is a device that is designed to help abeen invented in 1954 in the U.K., by Captain Ward, a
person float and keep his or her head above water inRoyal National Lifeboat Institution inspector. He
swimming pools, rivers or the sea. Life jackets arefashioned a vest that used cork as a buoyancy
commonly found at swimming pools, airplanes, boats,device.
yachts and large ships and are placed in locations thatThe various types of life jackets available include
are easily accessible to passengers and crewfoam core, deep water, air chamber, underwater and
members.specialized life jackets. Foam core lifejackets are
It is equally important to wear a life jacket whileusually the simplest and the least buoyant. Air
participating in adventure water sports such as whitechamber life jackets are used mainly on large
water rafting. The life jackets are buoyant in nature,transport vehicles such as aircrafts and cruise liners.
which means, they float in water without any actionThese life jackets are usually created of vinyl and
from the wearer.encapsulate air chambers that can be inflated. They
Life jackets are usually made of tough synthetic fiberprovide more buoyancy than foam life jackets. Deep
covering a source that provides buoyancy such as awater life jackets are designed for long term
chamber or air or foam. These jackets are available inimmersion in water. They are also known as wet
bright colors such as yellow or orange, which helpsuits or dry suits.
rescue personnel easily spot them in case ofUnderwater life jackets are used by deep sea divers
emergencies.to adjust their buoyancy while they are underwater.
The earliest instances of use of life jackets can beSpecialized life jackets are used for adventure water
traced to Norwegian seamen who used simple blockssports like river rafting or kayak racing and are highly
of cork or wood to help a person float in case he fellbuoyant.
overboard. The modern life jacket is said to have