NEW LIFE-SAVING JACKET

Evening Star, Issue 16559, 19 October 1917, Page 3

NEW LIFE-SAVING JACKET

APPROVED BY BOARD OF TRADE. A new or improved buoyant life-saving jacket, which has been approved as a lifesaving appliance by the Board of Trade, London, was invented by Mrs Norman Beaumont, of Dunedin. The invention has been recognised by the surveyors as one of the best jackets that has ever been submitted to them. It is circular in shape, with kapok pockets. The great advantage of this invention is that there is no adjusting of tapes, and it can be placed in position in five seconds. The new jacket acts in the same way if it is put on upside down, back to front, or inside out. It consists of two elongated cylindrical pockets, made of brown holland or grey cotton duck, which are connected to each other by webs at the top and bottom. The space between the pockets permits the head to pass, allowing one pocket to rest on the chest and the other on the back, and the space between the webs permits the arms to pass freely through these openings. The pockets are filled with kapok to give the necessary buoyancy to the jacket. The tapes are four in number, and are placed in opposite ways. The ends of the tapes protrude through brass eyelets, which are fastened in the middle to the top, bottom, front, and bsck of the jacket. The manner in which tho " Salvtis " life-saving jacket, as it is known, is fitted to the body is as follows:—The jacket is passed over the head, between the two pockets, the arms are slipped through the openings at each end between the top and bottom webs, the tapes are tightened, drawing the two flotation pockets close to the body, are securely fastened, and the jacket is ready for use. be used to support a baby or young child in the water by attaching the infant to the webs, the flotation' pockets being on either side and parallel with the body, thus supporting the baby or child in the water.

Mrs Beaumont was asked to be present at the final test of her invention. She was highly complimented, and was instructed by the Board of Trade to forward nine of these jackets .for use by the surveyors of the principal ports in. England, together with over SCO copies of the specifications. The Admiralty also gave Mrs Beaumont a large order for these jackets.