100 years ago From the pages of THE LIFEBOAT, May 1890 issue THE LIFE-BELT USED BY THE CREWS OF THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION The requisite qualities of a life-boatman's life-belt are:- 1. Sufficient extra buoyancy (maximum 28 Ibs., minimum 25 Ibs.) to support a man heavily clothed with his head and shoulders above water, or to enable him to support another person besides himself.

2. Perfect flexibility, so as to readily conform to the shape of the wearer.

3. A division into two zones, an upper and lower, so that between the two it may be secured tightly round the waist; for in no other manner can it be confined sufficiently close and secure round the body without such pressure over the chest and ribs as to materially affect the free action of the lungs, impede the muscular movement of the chest and arms, and thereby diminish the power of endurance of fatigue, which, in rowing boats, is a matter of vital importance.

4. Strength, durability and non-liability to injury.

Many different types of 'life-belt' have been used since this 1890 version, and development of a further improved lifejacket for crews of Over 10m lifeboats is currently under way..