Some details of this specialized jacket are as follows. A three-chamber
system secures buoyancy by means of a 290 N buoyancy chamber,
which can be automatically activated, and a manual reserve system
for the second inflatable chamber. The close fitting design
of the jacket prevents the equipment from being damaged while
deflated or inflated. Such damage could be caused from mechanical
damage on board, or from the power of the sea. Although they
are wearing particularly heavy attire, the lifting buoyancy
of the jacket can turn and hold the rescue workers to a safe
face-upward, inclined position. There is an integrated six-point
safety belt design with a central harness point to ensure safety
to the rescue workers when exposed to harsh forces of the sea.
This feature assists in rescue without putting strain on one
side of the body.
The Mod. 4 lifejacket is made of extremely durable material
and includes many safety accessories to allow the wearer maximum
advantage when on a rescue operation. The vest is made of net
fabric, and the leg and chest straps encompass the body several
times. The buoyancy chamber and the protective cover surrounding
the chamber are both manufactured with tear-resistant materials.
The accessories on the jacket include a spray hood, a buddy
line, an automatic safety light, a buoyant knife, an emergency
transmitter, and a signaling whistle. In addition, the jacket
includes large pockets and reflective material covering much
of the jacket.
The jacket's functional use and the ease of movement during
use have been proven over time by its wide acceptance, and through
tests. One test, in particular, was a training course including
60 people and several cruisers and vessels from the DGzRS. The
result of this test led to recognition that the DGzRS lifejacket
qualifies as a complete life-saving product, which knows no
parallels.
