Life Buoy

The Life Buoy, also known as a life ring or life preserver ring, is a circular flotation device designed to be thrown to a person who has fallen into water, providing immediate buoyancy support to help them stay afloat while awaiting rescue. Constructed from lightweight, unsinkable materials such as expanded polystyrene foam encased in a durable outer shell, the ring is built to withstand impact when thrown and to remain buoyant indefinitely, even after prolonged exposure to water and sunlight. Most life buoys are finished in high-visibility colors, typically orange or red combined with reflective tape strips, making them easy to spot both during daylight rescue operations and low-light conditions using searchlights or flashlights.

A length of rope is often coiled around the outer rim, allowing the person in the water to hold on securely once the buoy reaches them, or enabling rescuers to pull the buoy and the person back toward safety. Life Buoys are a mandatory piece of safety equipment aboard ships, docks, harbors, and near any body of water where drowning risk exists, including industrial water tanks, ports, and offshore platforms. They are typically mounted on visible brackets near the water’s edge for immediate access in case of a man-overboard emergency.