Parents preparing for summer are being urged to think before buying blow-up arm-bands and rings.
Trading Standards officers are encouraging people to check that buoyancy aids will really do the job before grabbing the nearest inflatable off the shelf.
Not all products are meant to be used to help a child stay above water and even if they will float, if the item is a toy, such as an inflatable animal or giant ring, it will not necessarily be manufactured to the same safety standards as something specifically designed to help a child learn to swim.
The British Standard sets out detailed requirements for buoyancy aids and a visual inspection of an intended purchase can go some way to showing whether it would sail through the tests or sink without a trace.
To help make sure that a product is a buoyancy aid and not just a toy, buyers should:
 check the number of chambers to be inflated - a buoyancy aid must have more than one
look at the markings on the product - these must include the letters 'CE', the number 'EN 13138: 2007', an idea of the age/size of the intended user, the manufacturers name or trademark and a warning that the product "Will not protect against drowning"..
Information about choosing a suitable product for the user, how to inflate, deflate, fit correctly, remove and store the aid should also be given with it.
In a nutshell, buoyancy aids can be very helpful, giving a youngster confidence when learning to swim but they should not be regarded as life preservers and users should always follow the instructions given with the aid.
It is particularly important that when a non-swimmer is in any water, including swimming pools, a responsible adult is close at hand, even when buoyancy aids are being used.
Summer 2008
Safety Info:
1. The relevant British Standard is BS EN 13138 :2007
2. The address of the manufacturer or their representative in the EU is required by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005
3. The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 require the CE mark to be present
4. The CE mark indicates that the manufacturer is stating that the goods comply with all relevant legislation
Back to Summer Holidays
Back to Features
| 
Beach Safety Tips
