Rescue buoy
A rescue buoy or rescue tube is a long foam flotation device that, when needed, can help support the victim's and rescuer's weight to make a rescue easier. It is an essential part of the equipment that must be carried by lifeguards.
The tube is usually made of vinyl, and is buoyant enough to support the full weight of a rescuer and several victims. The tube has a long leash that the lifeguard wears around the body to tow the tube along while swimming a long distance. The rescue tube or buoy is usually red, but can come of a variety of colors. Rescue tubes often have the words "Guard" or "Lifeguard" printed on them.
World War II rescue buoy
During World War II, at the instigation of German Generaloberst Ernst Udet, large buoys were deployed in the English Channel for downed Luftwaffe flyers.[1] Each included a 43-square-foot (4.0 m2) enclosed cabin and a radio transmitter. One can be seen in the British films One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942) and We Dive at Dawn (1943).
References
- ^ "The German Rescue Buoy". Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 12 (US War Department publication). November 19, 1942. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
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