Using the correct lifejacket or buoyancy aid can be a life or death issue, but what constitutes a good one, asks Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent
When five people lost their lives off Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford, in late July three years ago, it marked a turning point in the long campaign to raise awareness about safety on the water. Three of the five who died were from one family. Not one of the 10 on board the sea angling boat, Pisces, at the time of the accident was wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board's report into the accident on July 28th, 2002, identified the craft's unseaworthiness as a fundamental cause. It also noted that the boat was unstable and overloaded. However, its confirmation that there weren't enough lifesaving appliances to keep people afloat in the water in the event of an emergency led to a fundamental change in State policy on marine safety.
Law, rather than common sense, now dictates use of lifejackets in certain pleasure craft, and there are mixed views within the marine sector on the efficacy of legislation which requires considerable resources to enforce.
There is also understandable anger within the Irish Marine Federation over the fact that 21 per cent VAT is charged on safety equipment. Currently, lifejackets or personal flotation devices (PFDs) have to be worn by fishermen on decks of commercial vessels, and are mandatory on board any boat of seven metres or less in length.
Boats over this size must carry a PFD for every person on board, and all children under 16 years of age must wear them on the deck of any length of vessel which is under way. But what is a PFD, what constitutes a good one, and where does this leave buoyancy aids?
PFD is a generic term covering both lifejackets and buoyancy aids. A lifejacket is designed to turn an unconscious person face up on entering the water. A buoyancy aid is not guaranteed to do this and is, as the name describes, an aid to keeping one afloat close to shore.
Unlike seatbelts in cars, such safety equipment is sold in many different makes and forms, and chandlers note that there are some brands on the market here which are cheap imitations. Yet even some reputable makes can have their problems if they are not serviced regularly - a point raised by Irish Water Safety (IWS) chief executive Lieut Cdr John Leech (see panel).
As the IWS explains in its safety literature, wearing a buoyancy aid or a lifejacket is vital when afloat or engaged in an activity near water. It must be the correct size, be properly fastened and the user must know how it works. The right PFD will give extra time to those caught in the water offshore, it emphasises.
PFDs are made with "foam-only" buoyancy, "air foam" buoyancy or "air-only" buoyancy. "Foam-only" PFDs provide buoyancy at all times, are bulky, but do provide additional protection against wind and cold, the IWS points out.
Some sports like jet-skiing, water-skiing, dinghy sailing, windsurfing and canoeing have specialised PFDs which are designed specifically to suit these sports. The national organisations have guidelines on suitable safety gear. The most compact and most popular among many "yachties" are the "air-only" lifejackets, which can be inflated manually or orally, or activated automatically on hitting water. For these, the IWS recommends that spare gas cylinders and automatic inflation mechanisms should be carried.
The internationally recognised measurement for buoyancy is a Newton; 10 Newton is equivalent to 1kg of flotation. There are four European standards for PFD buoyancy, which must by law carry the "CE" mark.
A buoyancy aid is 50 Newton, and is for competent swimmers who are near to the bank or shore, or who have help and means of rescue close at hand. Not very bulky, 50 Newton buoyancy aids are of limited use in choppy water and won't keep the wearer safe for very long. They are also unsuitable for people who can't swim or who are not very comfortable with being in water.
The 100 Newton lifejacket is intended for those who may have to wait for rescue but are likely to do so in sheltered and calm conditions. The IWS says they are not suitable for people who are unable to help themselves, and may not roll an unconscious person on their back - particularly if they are wearing heavy clothing.
The 150 Newton lifejacket is for general offshore and rough weather use, and should turn an unconscious person into a safe position. It is recommended by the IWS for general use on coastal and inshore waters when sailing and angling. Its performance may be affected if the user is wearing heavy and/or waterproof clothing, the IWS says.
The 275 Newton lifejacket is designed for offshore and extreme conditions, and for those wearing heavy protective clothing - like commercial fishermen working on deck. It is designed to ensure that the user floats with mouth and nose clear of the surface of the water, and should carry approval by the Irish Maritime Organisation (SOLAS).
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources guidelines on PFDs recommends use of EU-approved (EN or EuroNorm) buoyancy aids of 50 Newton for good swimmers in sheltered waters where help is close at hand; 100 Newton for swimmers of any age in relatively sheltered waters, and 150 Newton for swimmers and non-swimmers and for offshore use.
When making the right selection, much depends on the type of activity the device is being used for, the distance from shore and amount of clothing worn. If air becomes trapped in clothing, or if a flotation suit is worn in addition to a lifejacket, it may reduce the ability of a lifejacket to roll the user face up in the water.
At the same time, a 275 Newton jacket may be very bulky and restrict manoeuvrability in certain conditions. Choosing a PFD with more buoyancy may counteract this, the IWS says. PFDs should be fitted with a whistle, with light and retro-reflective strips and with crotch straps.
The Crewsaver lifejacket is used by agencies such as the Health and Safety Authority, Irish Coast Guard, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the fire service, ambulance service and Garda Siochana. Finbarr O'Regan, Galway-based yachtmaster and sea survival instructor, says that a good child's jacket will cost from about €50, while a 100 Newton foam jacket for adults will cost about €65.
Inflatable jackets, either manual or automatic, cost between €125 and €160. Crewsaver provides CD-Rom instructions with its inflatable jackets, and recommends that all lifejackets should be serviced once a year. While there is a charge for servicing, inspection is free.
O'Regan says jackets should carry the CE certification by law, but notes that this standard is quite low, because testing facilities vary among EU member states.
"Specific parts within equipment may also vary - which can cause problems if one wants to service a jacket or replace a part in another EU member state. The US certification system is even lower than the EU standard, which should also be borne in mind," he says.
O'Regan advises that buyers should take time in selecting a reputable make which is backed up by regular servicing, and replacement part availability. Where watersports are concerned, national organisations like the ISA and Irish Canoe Union should be able to provide guidelines on suitable Newton strength.
Ted Magee, managing director of Western Marine in Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey, Co Dublin, which stocks International Safety PFDs, agrees that a chat with a chandler is imperative. A 150 Newton inflatable jacket may be fine for adults, when regularly serviced, but extra checking is required for children, he says.
What can go wrong
Two years ago next month, a Corkman wearing a lifejacket drowned after he fell from his small punt shortly after mooring his GRP motor launch. His wife, who was on the pier, raised the alarm.
Unfortunately, the 150 Newton lifejacket didn't inflate properly. Although help was on hand within three to four minutes, he was found face down in a foot of water.
A subsequent inquiry by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board found that the spring-operated non-return valve on the lifejacket was stuck in an open position and wasn't working correctly. One side of the inflation chamber hadn't inflated, and there was water inside the lifejacket.
Incidents like this have prompted the Irish Water Safety (IWS) to emphasise the need to service and check personal flotation devices (PFDs) regularly. Wear and tear, especially at the folds, straps and fastenings, should be watched out for. If jackets are loaned, they should be checked on return - particularly if they are of the inflated type and require a replacement canister.
It advises that gas bottles on inflatable lifejackets should be full, fitted correctly and should show no signs of corrosion. If used in salt water, such jackets should be washed afterwards in fresh water (disarming the automatic inflation device first) and allowed to dry fully before repacking.
PFDs should not be used as cushions, it stresses. This could compress the buoyancy and reduce its effectiveness. And PFDs don't last for ever. If it is getting tatty, it should be replaced. The IWS publishes safety literature, including advice on PFDs, which is available from its office at The Long Walk, Galway (tel 091-564400) or website: www.iws.ie/html/88
The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Irish Coast Guard have produced a booklet entitled Lifejackets & Buoyancy Aids. They are distributed through coast guard stations, voluntary organisations such as sailing clubs and are available on the department's Safety On The Water website www.safetyonthewater.ie