Durga idol immersion, Chhath at the ghats and the winter boating season all put large crowds right at the water's edge. Many accidents at these events happen close to the bank, to people who slipped off a step or a boat and never meant to go into the water. A boat crew in proper life jackets and a ring lifebuoy on a post every few metres along the ghat turn those moments into quick rescues. This guide covers KT India's water safety range, which product suits which job, how to use each one, and how to equip a ghat, pond, boat or riverside site.

Every person who goes on the water, including boatmen and volunteers, buckles up before stepping in.
Choose the right product for the job

Product	Best for	Key details
Life Jacket 90 KG With Certificate	Boatmen, immersion crews, volunteers, ferry and pond boating	Fluorescent orange PU-coated fabric, soft polyethylene foam, fits 30 to 56 in chest, up to 90 kg, three adjustable buckles, whistle on lanyard, three reflective bands, made to SOLAS/IRS/MMD pattern, ISO and CE certified
Life Jacket SOLAS Approved (Lalizas Lamda)	Rescue swimmers, marine crews and staff who must wear a jacket all day	Inflatable, 275 N buoyancy, double 60 g CO2 cylinders, SOLAS approved, slim enough to work in
Life Jacket Light YBA1	Night immersion and evening boat duty	Clips on the jacket, switches on automatically in water, flashes 50 to 70 times a minute for at least 24 hours, SOLAS/MED/USCG, 44 g
Lifebuoy With IRS Certificate	Throwing to someone in the water from a ghat, jetty, bridge or boat	720 mm outer and 440 mm inner diameter, polyethylene shell with hard PU core, over 14.5 kg buoyancy, IRS certified
Lifebuoy Stand Post	A fixed rescue point every few metres along the bank	SS 304 post, 1 m high, 2 in diameter, flange base for bolting down, hook for the lifebuoy
Lifebuoy Light 70030 Lalizas	Night rescues from ghats, jetties and boats	Man-overboard light, at least 2 cd in all directions for 2 hours, SOLAS/MED/USCG, runs on 4 D cells

Foam or inflatable?
For crowds, immersion crews and anyone who might be nervous in water, pick the foam life jacket. It floats the moment it touches water, needs no maintenance and is hard to damage, which makes it the right jacket for issuing in bulk. The Lalizas inflatable suits trained rescue and marine staff who wear a jacket for hours and need to move freely. It inflates on its CO2 cylinders to 275 N, which is enough to turn a person face up. Most ghats keep foam jackets for boat crews and volunteers, and a few inflatables for the rescue team.
How to wear a life jacket, step by step

1. Pick the right size. Check the chest range and the weight limit. The 90 kg jacket covers most adults.
2. Put it on before you step in. Wear it on the steps or jetty, not in the boat.
3. Close every buckle. Clip all three buckles and pull the straps until the jacket is snug.
4. Do the lift test. Have someone lift the jacket at the shoulders. If it rides up past the chin, tighten the straps.
5. Check the whistle and light. The whistle should hang free on its lanyard. For evening duty, clip a life jacket light on the shoulder.
6. Keep it on until you are back on land. Most accidents happen while getting in or out of the boat.

Throw the lifebuoy just beyond the person and keep hold of the rope.
How to throw a lifebuoy
Lift the lifebuoy off its post and hold the end of the rope firmly in one hand, or step on it. Shout to the person so they know help is coming. Throw the ring underarm so it lands just beyond them, then pull it gently back until they can reach it. Once they grab it, tell them to hold it to the chest and lean back, and pull them steadily to the steps. Never jump in after someone unless you are a trained rescuer wearing a jacket. At night, a lifebuoy light on the ring shows the rescuer and the person in the water exactly where it is.

Posts every few metres along the ghat mean a lifebuoy is always within reach.
Build a kit for your site

• Immersion ghat or Chhath ghat: a stand post with a lifebuoy about every 25 to 30 metres along the water, foam jackets for every boatman, idol carrier and volunteer who goes into the water, and jacket lights for night duty.
• Housing society or temple pond, artificial immersion tank: two lifebuoys on posts at opposite sides, and foam jackets for everyone who handles idols in the water.
• Boating club, ferry or resort lake: one foam jacket per seat on every boat, a lifebuoy with a light on each jetty, and inflatables for the rescue crew.
• Factories, dams, canals and construction near water: lifebuoys on posts at every work point beside the water, and foam jackets for anyone working on or over it.

Prepare your team
Before the event, mark the safe zone with bamboo barricades and rope, keep a boat with a jacketed crew on standby, and post volunteers at every lifebuoy point. Brief them on how to throw, how to pull in, and who calls for help. After the event, rinse the jackets in fresh water, dry them in the shade, check buckles and straps, and check the CO2 cylinders and the expiry date of the lights.
Frequently asked questions
How many lifebuoys does a ghat need?
Plan for one lifebuoy on a post about every 25 to 30 metres along the water's edge, plus one on every rescue boat.
Will a life jacket keep an unconscious person face up?
That is what it is designed to do. Make sure every buckle is closed and the straps are tight so it does its job.
What is the weight limit of the foam life jacket?
The KT India foam jacket is rated for up to 90 kg and fits a 30 to 56 in chest.
Do I need a light on the jacket or lifebuoy?
For any evening or night activity, yes. The jacket light switches on by itself in water, and the lifebuoy light marks the ring in the dark.
Make your ghat or riverside site safe this season. Browse the full range of life jackets and lifebuoys, or use Enquiry Now on any product page for bulk and dealer pricing.