Water Safety

8.2.1 Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids The revised ARA Water Safety Code requires all coxswains, umpires, coaches and launch personnel to wear lifejackets or buoyancy aids when afloat. The new Code was published on 17th March 1994 and became compulsory from 1st January 1995.

What is the difference between a Lifejacket and a Buoyancy aid? Air-only, Automatic or Manual Gas? Air-Foam filled Buoyancy Aids What is a Newton (N)? Guidance Standards Safety Harnesses MED Directive Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids Technical Terms

What is the difference between a Lifejacket and a Buoyancy aid? Lifejackets when fully inflated contain sufficient buoyancy to turn even an unconscious person into a safe, face upwards position within five seconds. This test is carried out wearing swimming trunks in calm water. (As recommended by BSI) The body will be inclined backwards facing the waves, with the head supported and the mouth and nostrils well clear of the water surface. A lifejacket must have a minimum of 150N.

A Buoyancy Aid is worn to provide extra buoyancy to assist a conscious person to keep themselves afloat. It is designed to give as good a flotation position as possible, but it cannot be guaranteed to turn the body over from a face down position, because the buoyancy is almost half that of a lifejacket and is distributed in a different way.

Air-only, Automatic or Manual Gas? Air-Only Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids rely on inflation to provide buoyancy. They have no permanent built?in buoyancy. This makes them compact and comfortable to wear.

Air Only Lifejackets are classed by the method used to inflate them.

Oral inflation is provided by blowing into a tube. In rough weather or if the wearer is unfit this may be difficult.

Manual Gas inflation occurs when the user pulls a short cord which fires C02 gas from a cylinder into the jacket.

Automatic Gas inflation is automatically triggered on entering the water without the wearer having to take any action. This is not recommended for coxes. It is recommended for poor swimmers and those with a medical condition that may render them unconscious before entering the water, eg. epilepsy.

Gas operated lifejackets can be inflated orally and the automatic version can be fired manually.

Air-Foam filled Buoyancy Aids For young children and those who prefer to have inherent buoyancy, there is a choice of air?foam filled appliances. One with a collar is best as it supports the head. These products have the disadvantage of being bulkier, but the advantage of being much cheaper.

What is a Newton (N)? A Newton is a measure unit of force. 10 Newtons are approximately equivalent to 1 kilo (2.21bs) of buoyancy. The new European Standard covers four levels of minimum buoyancy performance. The higher the Newton number the higher the buoyancy rating. The buoyancy rating quoted is for adult sizes only. Smaller sizes will have proportionally less buoyancy. 50 Newton - Buoyancy Aid - (11 lbs buoyancy) 100 Newton - Buoyancy Aid - (23 Ibs buoyancy) 150 Newton - Lifejacket - (331bs buoyancy) 275 Newton - LifeJacket - (621bs buoyancy)

What Guidance is given regarding purchase of lifejackets and buoyancy Aids? Safety equipment should always be purchased from a recognised and reputable manufacturer and retailer. This is the best assurance of quality. Our references are to products produced by Crewsaver, but there are many other satisfactory suppliers.

Good manufacturers will supply full instructions for use with each item, and will give full details of how to get the product serviced, and how to obtain spare parts (e.g. replacement gas bottles).

There are a number of independent authorities who provide approval for these products, and any one of these is an indication of quality. However as each model has to be separately tested to receive approval, manufacturers only tend to submit their most popular model for approval. Approving bodies include:

BSI - British Standards Institute Department of Transport SOLAS British Marine Industries Federation British Canoe Union

The CE Mark of Approval (the European Commission) is currently being introduced and in future a manufacturer will only be able to sell products that have been tested and carry this approval. There will however be a transitional period when retailers can sell existing stocks, and there is no requirement to replace serviceable lifejackets or buoyancy aids. Standards CE: By law a manufacturer can only sell Lifejackets, Buoyancy Aids and Safety Harnesses that have been tested to the latest European specifications and carry the CE Mark of Approval. All Crewsaver Lifejackets, Buoyancy Aids, Harnesses and Safety Lines are fully approved and CE Marked.

Safety Harnesses EN 1095 The CEN Standard is based on three main reasons for wearing a deck safety harness, i.e. to secure the wearer on deck. They are not intended to prevent falls from a height. The Standard also states that in the case of the combined lifejacket and safety harness, both elements must be tested and have separate CE approval.

MED Directive

Is the equivalent of the CE Standard for lifejackets, which must be applied to all SOLAS equipment for use on commercial vessels.

LIFEJACKETS AND BUOYANCY AIDS

The four CE categories

275 Newton Lifejacket (62 lbs / 28kg buoyancy) EN 399

Suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers. A high performance device for offshore and severe conditions, when maximum protection is required or where heavy waterproof clothing is worn. They give improved assurance of safety from drowning to people who are not able to help themselves. While they cannot be guaranteed to self?right an unconscious user, wearing heavy waterproofs, the buoyancy they provide should ensure they will in the great majority of cases. 100 Newton Lifejacket (23lbs / 11kg buoyancy) EN 395

Suitable for swimmers. They give a reasonable assurance of safety from drowning in relatively calm waters. Not guaranteed to self?right an unconscious user wearing waterproof clothing and should not be expected to protect the airway of an unconscious person in rough water. 150 Newton Lifejacket (33lbs / 16kg buoyancy) EN 396 Suitable for swimmers and non?swimmers For use in all but the most severe conditions. They will give reasonable assurance of the safety from drowning to a person not fully capable of helping themselves May not immediately self right an unconscious user wearing heavy waterproof clothing Equivalent performance to previous BSI Approved lifejackets.

50 Newton Buoyancy Aid (11 lbs / 5.5kg buoyancy) EN 393

Only suitable for competent swimmers. Sheltered water use where help is close at hand. Only provides support to a conscious person who can help themselves. Technical Terms Air Foam Lifejackets; part foam, part air buoyancy provided by oral inflation. Air Only Lifejackets; the buoyancy is provided by air or gas. Buoyancy Aid; a means of providing additional buoyancy to a conscious person who is able to swim and help themselves, in situations where help is close at hand. It has less buoyancy than a lifejacket. Buoyancy by Size; the amount of buoyancy in a device will change with its size. For example a baby size 10ON lifejacket has only 30N of buoyancy. This will operate on a baby in the same way as 10ON would on an adult. CE Mark; a sign that the lifejacket, buoyancy aid, harness and safety line has been tested and complies with the relevant European Standard. All these products must be tested and carry the CE Mark. Crutch Straps; a method of keeping the lifejacket held down and in place, when the wearer is in the water. We recommend their use at all times. Foam/inherent Buoyancy; buoyancy provided by closed cell foam or other similar material. Gas Inflation; the buoyancy of the lifejacket is provided by a CO., disposable gas cylinder. Once activated the COI, cylinder must be replaced. Harness/i*; a system of webbing straps with metal buckles and a ””””D”””” ring, used with a safety line, to prevent a person falling overboard. Us be CE approved and must have the stitching in a contrasting colour. Hydromatic Device; this mechanism is fitted with a hydrostatic valve that automatically inflates the lifejacket when the lifejacket is below the water. It is not affected by rain or spray. Lifejacket; a means of providing buoyancy in an emergency. A lifejacket should, when fully inflated, turn the wearer, even when unconscious, face up and keep the airway clear of the water. Manual Inflation; a method of inflating the lifejacket by pulling on a lanyard to pierce the gas cylinder. Mouth Inflation Tube; fitted to all Gas, Air Foam and Oral lifejackets. It is a tube which can be used to inflate any lifejacket by mouth. This tube is aiso used to deflate the lifejacket by depressing the non?return valve fitted in the tube. Newtons; the level of buoyancy a device provides in the water. 10 Newtons = 1kg = 2.21bs. Oral Inflation; the buoyancy is provided by mouth inflation. Retro-Reflective Tape; reflects light back to its source in a similar way to a ””””cats?eye,”””” assisting rescuers to locate a person in the water. Standard Automatic Activation; a device is fitted to inflate the lifejacket automatically once the wearer is in the water. Should this fail, manual activation can be used.