Carl Christoffer Bruenech from the society distinguishes between traditional life vests and modern inflatable ones, which require regular maintenance. Inflatable vests are equipped with a gas cartridge and a release tablet that inflates upon contact with water. According to Bruenech, the bladder inside must be checked every two years.
He noted that a vest can lie for ten years and work fine, but can also become ineffective if the bladder gets a hole. The society reports that many people are poor at maintaining inflatable vests, with some bringing vests that expired in 2008. So far this year, 21 people have drowned in Norway, with many accidents occurring from falls from land.
Bruenech emphasized that even on warm sunny days, water temperatures can be only 5-6 degrees Celsius, leaving little time to get back to safety if one falls in.