Inflatable armbands

Inflatable armbands are not a life-saving device, and mistaking them for one can create a dangerous false sense of security.

[2][1] National safety standards such as BS EN 13138-3:2007 in the United Kingdom require inflatable armbands to conform to certain standards, like puncture resistance and the level of buoyancy retained after a period of time beyond the inflation valve being opened and left open.

In 1907, swimming became part of the school curriculum in England and caused parents to become more concerned with their children's safety in the water.

In response to parents' worries, the Dean's Rag Book Company, London, introduced the Swimeesy Buoy, inflatable armbands with a colorful design that looked like the wings of a butterfly.

They were made of rubber, consisted of two parts, were worn on the upper arms, and inflated through a valve.

[3] A similar design of inflatable armbands for swimmers was invented by Bernhard Markwitz in Hamburg, Germany.