...the ultimate life vest designer

Pinoy designs 'ultimate' life vest

abs-cbnNEWS.com

08/01/2011

 

MANILA, Philippines - It may look like an ordinary backpack with several pockets, but the Rescue 72 grab-and-go bag may be the ultimate must-have when it comes to disaster preparedness.

 

Designed by Filipino entrepreneur Danvic Briones, the bag is a wearable survival kit that doubles as a life vest. Briones said it can carry up to 30 -- even 50 -- pounds of personal belongings.

The Rescue 72 grab and go bag also has first aid kits and tool kits at the front pockets for easy access, a container that can store 1 liter of water, a whistle to make it easier for rescuers to find you, a flashlight to help you get around during the night, and a pocket for a radio or mobile phone.

Briones said he thought of making this product after typhoon "Ondoy" struck Metro Manila 2 years ago.

"'Nung Ondoy walang nakaisip na ganoon kabilis ang baha," he said in an interview on radio dzMM's "Todo Todo Walang Preno" on Monday.

He noted how most people tend to panic or make the wrong decisions in times of disasters, especially when they have not prepared a survival kit.

"'Pag hindi ka ganoon ka-handa, mabilis mag-panic. Ang tendency mas mali ang desisyon na nagagawa kaya nagkaka-casualties. 'Pag ready ka, may presence of mind, mas ok ang percentage ng survival, mas mataas," he said.

In typhoon-prone Philippines, a survival kit may be a determining factor between life and death. The key is to know which items you'll be needing to get by, and to make sure that these will last long enough before help arrives.

Common items in a survival kit include food, water, a first aid kit, a Swiss Army knife, toiletries, clothes, garbage bags and cash.

A Philippine Coast Guard doctor, however, earlier suggested that unlikely items such as condoms, sanitary napkins and diapers may be handy in surviving natural disasters.