Innovative Lifesaving Devices Vie For Design Award

23rd October 2013

#WaterSafety - A lifejacket that turns into a wetsuit and a special harness that keeps lifejacket wearers upright in the water are in contention for a top innovation prize, as Yachting Monthly reports.

The Hydros personal flotation device (PFD), by Irish designer Kieran Nomroyle, and the TeamO Back Pull lifejacket harness are both in the running for the James Dyson Award - and the £30,000 (€37,800) cheque that comes with it - which is set to be announced on 7 November.

Design graduate Nomroyle explains that his invention was inspired by his role as a lifeguard and medic with the Irish Army Reserve, and he developed Hydros as a solution to the problem of hypothermia for his final year college project.

The TeamO, meanwhile, was developed by solo sailor Oscar Mead from Southampton and attempts to fix a "design flaw" in tethered lifejackets that causes wearers to be dragged through the water face-down.

Yachting Monthly has much more on the story HERE.

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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