Lifebuoy

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For other uses, see Lifebuoy (disambiguation).

A Containered Lifebuoy by the River Thames.

Lifebuoy. Photo: Georges Jansoone

Commercial use ring buoy aboard the USCGC Eagle.

"Lifering" redirects here. For the addiction recovery group see: LifeRing Secular Recovery

A lifebuoy, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver or lifebelt, also known as a "kisby ring" or "perry buoy", is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy, to prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with a seawater-activated light, or lights, to aid rescue at night.

The lifebuoy usually is ring-shaped or horseshoe-shaped and has a connecting line allowing the casualty to be pulled to the rescuer. 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 can lead to heavy fines of up to £5000 and/or imprisonment in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as a lack of this essential device has been, in the past, the cause of deaths.

The "kisby ring", or sometimes "Kisbie ring", is thought to be named after Thomas Kisbee (b: 1792, d: 1877) who was a British naval officer.

Lifebuoys are not considered suitable by the Royal Life Saving Society for use in swimming pools during emergencies, because they are heavy and hard, whereby throwing them into a crowded pool has the potential to cause more harm than good by injuring either the casualty or nearby pool users. In these locations lifebuoys have been superseded by more modern devices such as the torpedo buoy.

In the United States, Coast Guard approved lifebuoys are considered Type IV personal flotation devices. One Type IV PFD is required on all boats 16 feet or larger (except canoes and kayaks).

See also

• Personal flotation device