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_—————— i ee ha ad BUOYANT CUSHION provides fair flotation if worn correctly, left, but slips away from unconscious swimmer To get a better idea of how the diffe: ent types of lifesaving devices work. PM's edi- tors set up a simple testing program. We sent a shopper to a nearby marine-supply store with instructions to buy one of each Coast Guard-appreved device. plus a selec- tion of other popular types. We borrowed an average-sized tester, Bayard Richards of the PM promotional staff, and the big Olympic swimming pool at Chicago's Sher- aton Towers Hote}. One at a time, we fitted the devices on our “victim,” threw him into the pool, and watched to see how he came up. All of the devices worked, but some worked better than others. Here's how: For our tests, we chose a three-pad buoy- ant vest. a yoke-tyvpe buoyant vest. a buoyant cushion, a water-ski belt, an inflat- able tisherman’s vest, and a floating coat designed for hunting and fishing in cold weather. That's a good. representative selection of the devices you'll see on any summer afternoon out at the lake. Incidentally, the much-misused term “life preserver” actually describes only the big jacket-type device required on buats over 40 feet or those carrying paying pas- sengers, We didn't include this type which is seldum seen on pleasure boats, Bigger, bulkier. more expensive—and better—than YORE-TYPE VEST holds swimmer high ond upright, left; keeps unconscious man riding high, face out of water fl oe (BOQ