Tag: reflective tape

Attitudes to wearing lifejackets have changed slowly but surely says offshore sailing instructor and Rubicon 3 founder, Bruce Jacobs. As with car seatbelts, lifejackets are something that we automatically wear out on the water rather than just something to be worn in extremis. Personal responsibility and good seamanship do much to avoid a man overboard, but modern lifejackets are more lightweight and comfortable to wear than older models, giving us little reason not to put one on.

 

Part of this change has also been that lifejackets are seen as personal equipment, part of an individual’s sailing gear for which they are personally responsible, though many boat owners still carry lifejackets for their full crew.

 

Either way, you need to be confident that your lifejacket or lifejackets are in good working order, and can be relied upon in an emergency.

 

Lifejackets have a hard life. They are used and abused during the season, soaking with saltwater, dried in the sun, or shoved damp into a cramped locker. Giving it a thorough check and service, at least once a season is vital, as well as checking a few key features throughout the season. If you haven’t had your lifejackets serviced professionally in a couple of years, it’s worth doing to give them a more thorough set of checks, and for the peace of mind that everything is in order.

 

1

Life jackets have a tough life, but they need to be in good condition. Look for wear or chafe on the outer casing. Then look at the harness – run your hands down the webbing, looking closely that the stitching in good condition, and that there are no cuts, tears or UV damage. Then look at the buckle. If it is made of metal there is little that can go wrong, but check it’s not bent and the webbing attachment is in good order. If it’s a plastic buckle, make sure there are no chips or cracks, and the spring arms work correctly.

 

2

The crotch strap is an essential part of the lifejacket for keeping it close to your body in the water. The weak link here is the plastic buckle on either end as they are prone to be trodden on or caught in a hatch. Check both arms of the male part and the surround of the female part. There should be no cracks or splits. Replace it if there are.

 

3

Open up the casing by pulling open the zip or Velcro closure. Take some photos of the folded bladder, and at each stage, to help remind you how to repack it correctly. Unfold the bladder and look for any sign of physical damage, mould or mildew. A corroded gas canister can be rough enough to damage the bladder. The reflective tape needs to be fully attached and in good condition, and the stitching should all be intact. Now is a good moment to look after the zips if you have them. A bit of silicone spray will prevent friction and protect the zip.

 

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The equipment attached inside the lifejacket is critical in a real man overboard. Check that the whistle is attached. If the light (and yours should have a light) has a test button use this, or trigger the light by dipping the contacts into water. Make sure the oral inflation tube is in good nick – you’ll check the valve when you inflate it. If you have an AIS beacon or a PLB attached, use the self-test function on this. The hood is another essential piece of equipment to prevent secondary drowning. The seams and windows can degrade over time, so replace this if necessary.

 

5

On a manual-only firing mechanism, the lever should be closed and the green tag in place. This will be the case on the manual trigger for an automatic too, but you’ll also need to check the automatic cartridge is in date and has the green end cap in place. If the end is red, it’s been fired. If you do need to replace the canister, cartridge, or clips, be sure to use the correct one for your lifejacket.

 

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Next, unscrew the gas cylinder. This is fairly susceptible to corrosion as they sit in a damp environment for much of the time. Check the outside of clinder and the screw threads, and the end cap should be intact and not punctured. If that’s all in order, screw it back in. If not, replace the canister and check any rubber o-rings. Check the cylinder matches the specification printed on the lifejacket.

 

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The central part of a lifejacket service is to check that it is airtight, and remains so for an extended period. To do this, take the end cap off tube and inflate; you can blow into it, but this will introduce moisture. Lifejackets contain a powder to prevent the bladder surfaces from sticking to each other, but the moisture in your breath can prevent this work. It’s better if you can use a pump so the air that goes in is dry.

 

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Inflate to fairly firm pressure. You can submerge it for a bubble test, but make sure you have removed the cartridge first, so it doesn’t dissolve the salt crystal and fire the canister. The only failsafe test, however, is to leave it overnight for at least 12 hours, ideally 24 hours. While you’ve got it inflated, it’s a good time to try it on and find what it’s like to wear. Particularly, have a go at finding and deploying the hood – it’s not always easy and it’s vital to know how to do this before you need it for real.

 

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If having left the lifejacket overnight, you find it has lost a significant amount of pressure, it is probably at the end of its life. You could send it back to the manufacturer to check over, but you shouldn’t use a lifejacket that leaks. It’s probably time for a replacement. Every lifejacket will include a service record, which will tell you when it was last professionally serviced. If it hasn’t been done for a while, it is worth sending it for a full overhaul, even if it stays inflated, for thorough testing and peace of mind.

 

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If you are happy the lifejacket has no leaks, use the inflation tube cap and invert it to release the valve at the end of the inflation tube. It’s crucial to make sure all the air is out, so be patient, or use a foot pump to deflate. Don’t use a finger or anything else that could introduce dirt or debris into the valve.

 

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Slide the gas canister into any holding clips or coverings, as this helps prevent chafe. Screw the canister into the firing mechanism; it should be hand tight but not so tight as to risk damaging the threads. The bottles can work loose during the season, so this is something you’ll want to check regularly.

 

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Screw the trigger cartridge back on but don’t overtighten it. Check the manual toggle and lay it so it hangs outside the bladder. Replace the green clip over the manual firing arm.

 

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Make sure you’ve checked your lifejacket instructions on how to repack it, as each lifejacket model can have its intricacies. It’s important that if you have a separate bladder inside, the bladder is folded not rolled, as this can prevent the bladder inflating. Take care not to trap the bladder in the casing closure and check that the lifting becket is easily accessible and properly stowed. Make sure the crotch strap is done up. Finally, stow your lifejacket somewhere dry and protected.

If your child still needs a life jacket for the summer, sheriff’s deputies want to help out.

 

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is holding its 9th annual Life Jacket Exchange event later this month.

 

Experts will be on hand to check jackets for form, fit and function. You can bring your child’s outgrown or lightly used life jacket to the event, and it’ll be exchanged for one that fits properly.

 

The sheriff’s office is also asking for new or gently used youth-size life jackets to be donated for the event.

 

“Lakes and rivers, we have so many water sports and great opportunities to get out on the water here but it’s just so important for folks to wear their life jackets when they’re out there and will use this opportunity to get the word out,” said Tim Chase, with Lane County Search and Rescue.

 

If you don’t have a life jacket to exchange, chase says it shouldn’t be a problem to provide your child with the right fitting jacket.

 

The free life jacket with reflective tape exchange event is set for June 15th and 16th at Cabela’s in Springfield.

 

You can donate gently-used youth-sized life-vests now until then at the Sheriff’s Office in downtown Eugene.

 

Children learning skills to use life jacket correctly children learning skills to use life jacket correctly

Thanks to a grant from Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Board, the Onehunga War Memorial Pools are now incorporating the safe use of life jackets into swimming lessons and boat safety sessions.

 

“Safety on the water is paramount for our communities” explains Chris Makoare Chair of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, the area where the Onehunga suburb is located.

 

“The Board is a firm supporter of programs which help improve water safety awareness. We have some great beaches in our area as well as popular boating areas, so it just makes sense for us to support lifejacket education.”

 

“As part of our swim school we teach kids about life jackets, we hope that they’ll never need them in a real-life situation of course, but if needed these lessons should help them to not panic,” explains Gillian Moore, Swim Instructor at Onehunga War Memorial Pools.

 

“We start by showing everyone how to put on their jacket correctly, with the smaller kids we tell them it should be tight like a squeezy cuddle from Mum or Dad.”

 

“We advise that a lifejacket with reflective tape must always be worn when on boats, paddleboards, etc.

We also show them how to signal for help and how to get into an individual huddle and a group huddle to keep warm in cold water”.

 

Children are taught in increasingly deep water so that they learn to rely on the lifejackets for buoyancy.  For some, a raft or boat is bought into the pools and students are provided with a scenario of falling from a boat.

 

“It’s great to watch kids respond as they have been taught, we know that they leave the course with skills that hopefully are with them for life”.

“Talking Glass” Audible Stories on Signals AZ made possible by The Fain Signature Group – Celebrating 60 Years of Community Building.

 

The Dewey-Humboldt School District will be on Spring Break the week of March 9-13, 2020. With support from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Prescott Valley Police Department is focusing on a pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle safety. Fewer school buses transporting students to mean more vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles on the roadway.

 

Kids, walking, street, school kids

Many areas in Prescott Valley do not have sidewalks or streetlights. The Prescott Valley Police Department recognizes the danger to our students in these areas. We encourage parents to teach children to walk against the flow of traffic. Also, please remind them to be aware of their surroundings and not to be distracted with their cell phones. Lighter-colored clothing, reflective tape, and flashlights are also recommended for quick identification by drivers during nighttime hours. Together, as a community, we can help keep our children safe.

 

Spring Break also tends to see an increase in car and residential burglaries as well as other mischievous activities. The Prescott Valley Police Department encourages all residents to make sure their homes and vehicles are secure when not occupied. Remove valuable items from plain sight and your vehicles. Take time to document (including photos) make, model, and serial numbers of valuable items. Most criminal activity is based on opportunity. Remove the opportunity and minimize crime.

 

Safety and Protection is the theme for police officers during Spring Break. If you see anything suspicious, contact the police department.

Vacation is the perfect time to return to physical activity. One of the most popular summer outdoor activities is cycling. However, do we remember the rules of safe and comfortable driving after a long break? How to inflate tires properly, adjust the saddle and what to wear for a bike ride? Advice!

 

When entering a garage or basement, do you avoid bike sight? Beautiful weather outside, and you wonder how to apologize with your two-wheeler? Before you get on your bike, remember some important rules. Together with Michał Fick, a rider of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles MTB Team, we will help you return safely to cycling activity.

 

Safe vehicle = safe cyclist

Safety is the basis, so the first thing you must remember before getting on your bike is to check the condition of your vehicle.

 

Michał Ficek says: Effective brakes and the right amount of air in the tires are the absolute minima that our holiday transport should meet. It would be ideal to plan a visit to the bicycle service to make sure that all components of the drive system are working properly and that covering kilometers will not be associated with any danger due to the poor technical condition of the two-wheeler.

 

How can you check if your tires are properly inflated? The easiest way to do this is to press the tire with your thumbs at the end of the tread. If you can only make a millimeter dent, it means that your tires have enough air.

 

However, not only a functional vehicle guarantees safe driving. The cyclist must be visible on the road, so remember that your bike should be equipped with a front lamp with white or yellow light, a lamp with red light and a red reflective tape element placed at the back. Although the regulations do not require wearing safety helmets, it is worth protecting your head against any injury on any trip.

 

Attitude is the basis! Take care of the right position while driving

The right attitude is very important, no matter whether you play sports, walk or rest. Thanks to the right height adjustment of the bicycle saddle, we ensure not only a comfortable ride but also safety and comfort for our spine.

 

Michał Ficek says: First of all, pay attention to the appropriate frame size and saddle height. You cannot allow a situation when, during pedaling, our knees “run” sideways, we have a problem with reaching the pedals or unstable sitting on the saddle. The old school says that the right height of the saddle is one in which, sitting motionless in the saddle with the leg straight, we touch the heel with the pedal located at the most distant point of the crank mechanism rotation. Systematic riding in the wrong position can do us more harm than good.

 

How to properly set the height in a city bike? When riding on such a two-wheeler, the cyclist’s position is more upright, so the steering wheel must be set higher relative to the saddle (about 5 cm or more). In this position, most of the bodyweight is on the back of the bike, not on the hands.

 

First of all, convenience – a few words about a cycling outfit

During holiday trips, we are happy to choose a bike as a means of transport. Summer is a time when airy dresses reign, for ladies: dresses and skirts. Unfortunately, this outfit, although it looks impressive, is not a good option when riding a bicycle.

 

Michał Ficek says: When getting on the bike, we will forget about loose, long legs, which love to get caught in the chain. Occasional rides will not require special clothing – just comfortable, weather-proof shorts, a T-shirt and shoes. As the distance traveled on the bike increases and the time spent on the saddle, it is worth thinking about dedicated to this type of activity, more tight and at the same time airy clothes, in particular, shorts with a comfortable liner.

 

Appearance is not everything: apart from a comfortable outfit, for safety reasons, it is also worth putting on glasses that protect our eyes from the sun and getting sand, dirt or small insects into the eyes.

 

Measure your strength

The last thing to remember before getting on the bike is the right choice of route and load, adapted to the condition and possibilities. It is worth doing a short warm-up before the ride to prepare the body for physical exertion.

 

Michał Ficek says: If you return to the bike after a long break, remember to measure your intentions and start with short, undemanding routes. During the holiday we will feel a lack of physical effort for several months, so let’s approach sports activities with caution.

Legislation introduced by a pair of northern Ohio representatives would require horse-drawn buggies usually associated with the Amish to be equipped with flashing light on the back.

 

House Bill 501, introduced by Republican State Representatives Scott Wiggam of Wooster and Darrell Kick of Loudonville, would also require animal-drawn vehicles to use new reflective tape to ensure higher visibility.

 

Both items are part of a broader, revised road safety measure now before lawmakers in Columbus.

 

Data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol showed that there were more than 870 crashes involving an automobile and an animal-drawn vehicle or an animal with a rider since 2014, and that, on average, there are 120 crashes involving animal-drawn vehicles annually.

 

The Ohio Revised Code mandates that a combination of still lights be used at dusk, dawn or night on the front and back of their vehicles, with the option of using reflective tape or the triangular Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem on the rear.

 

Under the new bill, animal-drawn vehicles would be required by law to display a new type of reflective tape that provides higher visibility, as well as flashing yellow light on the highest rear of the buggy, pony cart, or other types of vehicle.

 

Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Wisconsin – states with significant Amish populations – have already passed legislation requiring flashing lights on horse-drawn buggies.

 

According to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Ohio has the second-largest Amish population in the nation, estimated at around 72,200.

 

ODOT said that counts having significant Amish communities include Holmes, Wayne, Geauga, Ashland, Medina, and Tuscarawas counties, although the Amish presence in recent years has migrated southward into Highland, Ross, Adams, and Brown counties.

 

In a recent highway safety study, ODOT and the state patrol identified three major causes of crashes between motor vehicles and Amish horse-drawn buggies:

 

Underestimating speed differential, where the driver of a car, truck or SUV realizes they are traveling faster than the buggy or pony cart they are approaching.

 

Visibility. Most Amish buggies are covered in black vinyl, making them virtually impossible to see at night without pre-cautionary safety lighting and reflective tape. Since the study revealed that most crashes involving buggies were rear-ended collisions, HB 501 suggested that flashing yellow light was mounted at the highest possible position at the rear of the buggy.

 

Unexpected vehicle actions, which may occur by a motor vehicle or horse-drawn buggy, or both.

 

“Many of Ohio’s districts, including our own, are home to rural communities that travel by animal-drawn buggies,” Wiggam said. “As a result, these individuals are not as visible as traditional vehicles and this poses a risk to both parties. This bill aims to increase the safety of citizens who travel by both traditional cars and animal-drawn buggies. This is good legislation that will save both Amish lives and English tears.”

 

HB 501 co-sponsor Kick agreed with Wiggam, saying that the issue of horse-drawn vehicle safety has been examined for many years with an open dialogue with leaders in the Amish community.

 

“After consulting with the Amish, English and law enforcement communities, we have decided it is time to update our laws,” Kick said. “With new technology, we can implement changes that are less intrusive to religious freedoms while promoting safety across the board for all Ohioans.”