3 ms·

In my vernacular, I distinguish between "life jackets" and "buoyancy aids". Apparently most people don't. A buoyancy aid has a foam core, and always provides

In my vernacular, I distinguish between "life jackets" and "buoyancy aids". Apparently most people don't. A buoyancy aid has a foam core, and always provides buoyancy. It's the sort of thing you'd wear while kayaking, but it's far too bulky to want to wear it unless you expect to go in the water. A life jacket is inflatable, and normally automatic. If you're at risk of falling in, and to do so would be dangerous, you should probably wear one of these -- if you go in the water, it'll inflate automatically. This isn't suitable if you might get wet without wanting the life jacket to inflate, though, and you can get equivalents with manual inflation. The ones you get on aircraft are cheaper than ones you're expected to re-use by wearing multiple times but in neither case will you inflate it multiple times. The downside of a manually-inflated life-jacket is that you need to be conscious to inflate it. The downside of an automatic life-jacket is that if you get wet, it'll inflate. The downside of the buoyancy aid is that it's always bulky, but on the other hand if you're wearing it, it'll always work.

eesmith 2y ago
Which vernacular is that? In boating a life jacket does not need to be inflatable. https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wea... says: > There are four basic design types: Inherent, Inflatable, Hybrid, and Special Purpose. > There are two main classes of PFDs. > * Those which provide face up in-water support to the user regardless of physical conditions (lifejackets). > * Those which require the user to make swimming and other postural movements to position the user with the face out of the water (buoyancy aid). It mentions both "Foam filled lifejackets" and "Inflatable lifejackets".
- andrewaylett 2y ago
  Seems like it's maybe a UK thing, and my (fairly limited) water-sports experience is kayaking and small sailboats. Isn't the English language fun?
  - eesmith 2y ago
    Interesting! I checked out what the RNLI had to say at https://rnli.org/safety/lifejackets https://rnli.org/safety/lifejackets and that page only mentions lifejackets along with gas. However, if you "Download our lifejackets and buoyancy aids guide as a PDF (3.48MB)" at https://rnli.org/-/media/rnli/downloads/1983319_choose_it_wear_it_final_may_19.pdf?rev=017c2179f85a477db5ab7f89d37ee35f&fd=true https://rnli.org/-/media/rnli/downloads/1983319_choose_it_we... you'll read "Children’s lifejackets may rely on foam, air and foam, or CO2 only to provide buoyancy" and "Air and foam or CO2 lifejackets meet the requirements of a level 150 lifejacket and are suitable for offshore use. Normally, foam lifejackets provide level 100 buoyancy and are suitable for inshore use." A further search of the RNLI site finds https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2018/june/the-evolution-of-lifesaving-kit https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2018/june/t... with "The foam-based Beaufort lifejacket [of the 1970s] upped the buoyancy level, allowing a crew member to also support the person being rescued." but by the 1990s "The bulkier gear of all-weather lifeboat crews meant they needed a more compact lifejacket, which inflated automatically on hitting the water using a built-in gas canister." Since I learned my small watercraft skills in the warm waters of Florida, instead of chilly UK, I can see how that would make a difference.
daedalus_f 2y ago
I’ve heard that distinction used in the UK. The other down side of buoyancy aids I was told about is that many (most?) will not turn you face up if you are unconscious. Gives useful extra mobility for sports but can be fatal if the wearer is unconscious.
- brazzy 2y ago
  It depends on the design of the specific device. A buoyancy aid with a foam collar will do it, but is less comfortable to wear. With an inflatable life jacket, to collar is not noticeable until it inflates.

eesmith 2y ago

Which vernacular is that? In boating a life jacket does not need to be inflatable. https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wea... says: > There are four basic design types: Inherent, Inflatable, Hybrid, and Special Purpose. > There are two main classes of PFDs. > * Those which provide face up in-water support to the user regardless of physical conditions (lifejackets). > * Those which require the user to make swimming and other postural movements to position the user with the face out of the water (buoyancy aid). It mentions both "Foam filled lifejackets" and "Inflatable lifejackets".

andrewaylett 2y ago
Seems like it's maybe a UK thing, and my (fairly limited) water-sports experience is kayaking and small sailboats. Isn't the English language fun?
- eesmith 2y ago
  Interesting! I checked out what the RNLI had to say at https://rnli.org/safety/lifejackets https://rnli.org/safety/lifejackets and that page only mentions lifejackets along with gas. However, if you "Download our lifejackets and buoyancy aids guide as a PDF (3.48MB)" at https://rnli.org/-/media/rnli/downloads/1983319_choose_it_wear_it_final_may_19.pdf?rev=017c2179f85a477db5ab7f89d37ee35f&fd=true https://rnli.org/-/media/rnli/downloads/1983319_choose_it_we... you'll read "Children’s lifejackets may rely on foam, air and foam, or CO2 only to provide buoyancy" and "Air and foam or CO2 lifejackets meet the requirements of a level 150 lifejacket and are suitable for offshore use. Normally, foam lifejackets provide level 100 buoyancy and are suitable for inshore use." A further search of the RNLI site finds https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2018/june/the-evolution-of-lifesaving-kit https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2018/june/t... with "The foam-based Beaufort lifejacket [of the 1970s] upped the buoyancy level, allowing a crew member to also support the person being rescued." but by the 1990s "The bulkier gear of all-weather lifeboat crews meant they needed a more compact lifejacket, which inflated automatically on hitting the water using a built-in gas canister." Since I learned my small watercraft skills in the warm waters of Florida, instead of chilly UK, I can see how that would make a difference.

daedalus_f 2y ago

I’ve heard that distinction used in the UK. The other down side of buoyancy aids I was told about is that many (most?) will not turn you face up if you are unconscious. Gives useful extra mobility for sports but can be fatal if the wearer is unconscious.

brazzy 2y ago
It depends on the design of the specific device. A buoyancy aid with a foam collar will do it, but is less comfortable to wear. With an inflatable life jacket, to collar is not noticeable until it inflates.