A lifebuoy is a life-saving

buoy A buoy () is a floating device that can have many purposes. It can be anchored (stationary) or allowed to drift with ocean currents. Types Navigational buoys * Race course marker buoys are used for buoy racing, the most prevalent form of yac ...

designed to be thrown to a person in water, to provide

buoyancy Buoyancy (), or upthrust, is an upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of a partially or fully immersed object. In a column of fluid, pressure increases with depth as a result of the weight of the overlying fluid. Thus the p ...

and prevent

drowning Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer a ...

. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.

Other names

Other names for "lifebuoy" include safety wheel, lifebelt, water wheely, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver, Perry buoy, or Kisbee ring. The "Kisbee ring", sometimes "kisby ring" or "kisbie ring", is thought to be named after inventor Thomas Kisbee (1792–1877), a British naval officer.

Description

The lifebuoy is usually ring- or horseshoe-shaped

personal flotation device A personal flotation device (PFD; also referred to as a life jacket, life preserver, life belt, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suite that is worn by a ...

with a connecting line allowing the casualty to be pulled to the rescuer in a boat. They are carried by ships and are also located beside bodies of water that have the depth or potential to drown someone. They are often subjected to vandalism which, since the unavailability of lifebuoys could lead to death, may be punished by fines (up to £5,000 in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

) or imprisonment. The UK

Royal Life Saving Society The Royal Life Saving Society UK is a drowning prevention charity founded in 1891 in the UK. It has had Royal Patronage since 1904. History The Royal Life Saving Society UK is a national charity, founded in 1891 by William Henry, with the aim of ...

considers lifebuoys unsuitable for use in

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

s because throwing one into a busy pool could injure the casualty or other pool users. In these locations, lifebuoys have been superseded by devices such as the

torpedo buoy A rescue buoy or rescue tube or torpedo buoy is a piece of lifesaving equipment used in water rescue. This flotation device can help support the victim's and rescuer's weight to make a rescue easier. It is an essential part of the equipment th ...

. In the United States, Coast Guard approved lifebuoys are considered Type IV

personal flotation devices A personal flotation device (PFD; also referred to as a life jacket, life preserver, life belt, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suite that is worn by a ...

. At least one Type IV PFD is required on all vessels 26 feet or more in length.

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 14522 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, Drawing, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially res ...

sketched a concept for a safety wheel, as well as for buoyant shoes and balancing sticks for walking on water. Leonardo da Vinci, lifebelt (cropped).jpg,

's design sketches for a safety wheel File:Acta Eruditorum - II medicina, 1691 – BEIC 13350590.jpg, First studies on the lifebuoy illustrated in the ''

Acta Eruditorum (from Latin: ''Acts of the Erudite'') was the first scientific journal of the German-speaking lands of Europe, published from 1682 to 1782. History ''Acta Eruditorum'' was founded in 1682 in Leipzig by Otto Mencke, who became its first editor, ...

'', 1691

Gallery of types of lifebuoys

"Life ring" in Newport Beach.JPG, "Life ring" in Newport Beach, California Lifebuoy-Thames.jpg, A containered lifebuoy by the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

USCGC Eagle life preserver.JPG, Commercial use ring buoy aboard Aqualiner_Aanlegplaats_Reddingboei.JPG, Aqualiner, containing ring buoy and rope Lifebelt Commander British Forces Malta MMM.jpg, Older style of lifebelt File:Lifebuoy in Ireland.jpg, Lifebuoy in Ireland File:Lifering on beach.jpg, Lifebuoy on a beach File:Tutjusaaristo.jpg, Lifebuoy at Tutjuniemi of Saaristo Harbour in

Liperi Liperi ( sv, Libelits) is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the North Karelia region. Liperi is a community of () with the growth rate of 83 newcomers in 11 months in 2007. The population density is . The municipality covers an area of ...

North Karelia North Karelia ( fi, Pohjois-Karjala; sv, Norra Karelen) is a region in eastern Finland. It borders the regions of Kainuu, North Savo, South Savo and South Karelia, as well as Russia's Republic of Karelia. It is the easternmost region of Finlan ...

, Finland

References

External links

* * Rescue equipment Buoyancy devices {{Lifesaving and Lifeguarding

Other names

Description

Gallery of types of lifebuoys

See also

References

External links