WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR LIFE JACKET

PERFORMANCE!

Life Jacket Performance Study

Conducted by

C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic & Regatta

Partnering Organizations

American Canoe Association, USRowing, US Sailing

Funded by

Bonnell Cove Foundation

Purpose of Study

• Test & Evaluate Life Jackets

• Identify Desirable Performance Factors

• Share Findings with Manufacturers

Pool & Open Water Testing

3 Test Venues

104 Tests in Pool

92 Tests in Open Water

29 Life Jackets

15 Testers 13 Adaptive

2 Able-bodied

Performance Factors

Performance

Fit &

Comfort Flotation

Level

Static Stability

Dynamic Stability

Face- Down

Rotation

Feeling Safe

Visibility in Water

Life Jacket

Lift

Fit & Comfort • Fit

o Importance of fit ride-up o 23% difficulty tightening straps for

good fit o 3% could not get straps tight

enough for good fit

• Ride-Up o Discomfort

o Neck chafing, choking, back of head ride-up

o Flotation level impacted o Contributing factors

o Pear-shape, fit, straps , leg/crotch straps

Ride-Up Data: Life Jackets

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

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Type I Type II Type III Inflatable Belt Pack 50 N

Ride-Up Data: Testers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

CM (7) CR (19) SS (13) TS (23) CW (23) SL (6) SM (4) MD (14) AA (10) WE (13) KH (13) RH (7) BK (16) LS (12) RT (15)

% o

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Female Male

Flotation Level Performance Factors

oBuoyancy of life jacket 50N, 70N (USCG min), 120N

oRide-up

oMuscle mass vs. fat mass

oLife jacket design

50 N (11 lbs.) Vest

120N (26.3 lbs.) Vest Inflatable

Flotation Level – Open Water 50 N (11 lbs.) Wave Action

EU Approved – Not USCG 70 N (15.5 lbs.) Wave Action

USCG Approved

Flotation Level Comparison

At Chin 35%

At Shoulders

43%

1-3" Below Shoulders

22%

At Chin 5%

At Shoulders

38%

1-3" Below Shoulders

33%

4+“ Below Shoulders

24%

115 Newton (25 lbs.) Life Jacket USCG Approved

50 Newton (11 lbs.) Life Jacket EU Approved – Not USCG Approved

Static “Survival” Stability

• Stability in Pool o85% face up or vertical

o14% face down

o 1% sideways

• Stability in Open Water o83% face up or vertical

o17% face down

Dynamic Stability

• Stability in Pool o98% face up or vertical

o 2% face down

• Stability in Open Water o96% face up or vertical

o 4% face down

Face-Down Rotation

Pool & Open Water o 5 % Unable to turn

o16 % Head turn

o65 % Head & arms

o 5 % Torso turn

o 9 % Life jacket turn

5 %

16 %

65 %

Feeling Safe in Water

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

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70%

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90%

100%

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Type I Type II Type III Inflatable Vest Belt Pack 50 N

Visibility in Water

• Poor Visibility o Low flotation

oBlack tops & straps

• Recommendations oBright colored tops &

straps

oBright hoods

oReflective, florescent strips

Life Jacket Lift Shoulder strap

design

Quick PIW Retrieval Method

To the Pool… Lets See How the Life Jackets Perform!

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