救命關鍵 - 救生衣(二) Types of Lifejackets

前文談及市場上有三大類別的救生衣，其中以第一類別的救生衣浮水能力最高，我們再看看其餘兩大類別的救生衣。

第二類別：

第二類別的救生衣尤如一件有浮力的背心，浮水能力不及第一類別，也沒有特別設計能助使用者的頭部浮出水面，只是救生衣必須是顏色矚目鮮艷，在大海中容易讓救援人員發現。這類別的救生衣主要適合坐船到較平靜水上環境的乘客使用，例如湖上泛舟。

第二類別救生衣的浮水能力稍遜。

第二類別救生衣基本上是一件浮水背心。

第三類別：
第三類別救生衣的浮水能力和第二類別相若，但生產商在選配顏色上有更大自由度，不一定是鮮豐矚目的顏色，穿起來舒適有型才是最主要賣點。最適合玩滑水等水上活動用家使用。

第三類別救生衣

第三類別救生衣，顏色可以變化多端。

一般而言，浮水能力最強的第一類別救生衣售價最貴，都超過一百元；第三類別的最平宜，約五十元便有交易。聖誕節過後，商店紛紛減價促銷，說一定大家能從中尋獲心頭好，但我想你絕不會為了省一百幾十元而買一件不適合自己的救生衣吧？

 圖片來源：NSW Maritime

Types of Lifejacket - Part 2

As mentioned  in the previous article, there are three types of lifejackets available in markets and Type 1 lifejacket  provides the highest level of buoyancy. Let’s have a look of the remaining two types of lifejackets.

 Lifejacket Type 2

A type 2 lifejacket is a buoyancy vest. They are not designed to keep the wearer’s head above and out of the water but are manufactured using high-visibility colours and in comfortable styles. Type 2 lifejackets are mainly used when boating in more sheltered enclosed or inland waters. These are some examples:

Type 2 lifejacket is not designed to keep wearer's head above the water.

Type 2 lifejacket is like a buoyancy vest

Lifejacket Type 3

A type 3 lifejacket is a buoyancy vest with the same overall buoyancy as a type 2 lifejacket. But it is not required to be made in high-visibility colours. Type 3 lifejackets are mainly used for aquatic sports such as waterskiing where comfort and style are important.

Type 3 lifejacket

Type 3 lifejacket is not required to be made in high-visibility colour.

In general, Type 1 lifejacket is most expensive among the three types of lifejackets, usually over $100; while Type 3 is the cheapest, usually around $50. But I believe you don’t want to put your life on the line by saving just a few bucks.

Enjoy your post-Christmas bargain hunting!

Picture Source: NSW Maritime

救命關鍵 - 救生衣(一) Lifejackets - Our Life Saviours (Part 1)

若進行礁石垂釣時不幸墮入海中，救生衣便成救命關鍵。所以礁石釣魚安全守則其中項，就是提醒釣魚人士必須穿著救生衣，別自恃泳術高超或嫌麻煩而掉以輕心。

救生衣的售價由五十元至逾百元不等，究竟那些才適合礁石垂釣？

目前市場上出售的救生衣主要分為三大類，全部符合澳洲政府的標準。

第一類別：

這一組別的救生衣，浮水能力最高，有些附有領子，這款設計是盡量令使用者的頭部浮起，即使使用者遇溺，不醒人事，浮在海面時其臉部也能向上。這類救生衣的顏色通常十分鮮艷並附有反光帶。這

以下是其中兩款第一類別的救生衣:

附有領子設計的救生衣,能助使用者浮在水面,臉部朝上。

 

充氣式救生衣。

充氣式救生衣的零售價一般超過一百元，但仍甚受歡迎，因為穿起來輕巧舒服，而且有型有款。不過這款救生衣需要使用者拉扯繩扣才會充氣，所以不大適合初學礁石釣魚或泳術有限的人士。試想想，當你墮入大海，又不諳水性，在惶恐之際還要顧著拉扯繩扣才能令救生衣發揮救命作用。

圖片來源：NSW Maritime

Types of lifejacket - part 1

Lifejackets or personal floating devices (PFD) are our saviours if we end up in water. That’s why one of the golden rules in rock fishing safety is always wear a lifejacket; even you’re a superb swimmer.

A lifejacket can cost you from $50 to over $100, so how to choose one that’s suitable for rock fishing?

There are basically three types of lifejackets with various levels of buoyancy available in the market. All of them are recognised under Australian Standard.

Lifejacket Type 1:

A type 1 lifejacket provides the highest level of buoyancy, designed to keep the wearer’s head above, and out of the water when unconscious. They are made in high visibility colours with retro-reflective patches and are mainly used when boating in open waters and and rock fishing.

Below are some examples of type 1 lifejackets.

The collar of the lifejacket is specially designed to keep wearer's head above and out of the water.

The inflatable lifejacket.

The inflatable lifejacket usually costs over $100 but it's quite popular as it looks cool and stays comfortable. However, if you're a beginner in rock fishing and not good at swimming at all, this might not be a good choice for you as you need to pull the string to get the lifejacket inflated while you're panicky struggling in the rough sea.

Pictures Source: NSW Maritime