A Visual Awareness Safety Accessory (VASA) is disclosed for use by a person engaged in watersport/water-based activity. The device may be worn by itself or in combination with a personal flotation device (PFD). The VASA includes a user worn deployable highly visible flag element which is lifted via an attached float when a wearer enters the water. The float raises the flag element well above a user's head whereupon the user can be more easily seen by others using the same waterway. The higher visibility more easily enables location identification of the wearer for rescue, retrieval, and/or collision avoidance.

A Visual Awareness Safety Accessory (VASA) is disclosed for use by a person engaged in watersport/water-based activity. The device may be worn by itself or in combination with a personal flotation device (PFD). The VASA includes a user worn deployable highly visible flag element which is lifted via an attached float when a wearer enters the water. The float raises the flag element well above a user's head whereupon the user can be more easily seen by others using the same waterway. The higher visibility more easily enables location identification of the wearer for rescue, retrieval, and/or collision avoidance.

An aerosol generating system is provided, including: a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating element for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, control circuitry in communication with the storage portion, and disabling component within the storage portion for rendering the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry. There is also provided a method in an aerosol generating system, including sending a disable signal from the control circuitry to the disabling component following a determination that an amount of the aerosol-substrate in the storage portion is below a threshold level or following a determination of a malfunction in the system.

A flotation-hydration system to be worn by a user, particularly in a water borne environment, includes a vest assembly dimensioned to at least partially surround the user's upper torso while donned by the user in an operative manner. The vest assembly comprises a plurality of panels securely attached to one another, and a flotation assembly comprising at least one flotation member having a buoyant material of construction disposed in one of the panels of the vest assembly. A hydration support assembly is disposed substantially within the vest assembly and includes a chamber support unit, wherein the chamber support unit is dimensioned and configured to receive a hydration chamber in a supported relation therein. A dispensing tube is routed from the hydration chamber to the front of the vest assembly, for ready access by the user, through a dispensing tube retention channel.

A flotation-hydration system to be worn by a user, particularly in a water borne environment, includes a vest assembly dimensioned to at least partially surround the user's upper torso while donned by the user in an operative manner. The vest assembly comprises a plurality of panels securely attached to one another, and a flotation assembly comprising at least one flotation member having a buoyant material of construction disposed in one of the panels of the vest assembly. A hydration support assembly is disposed substantially within the vest assembly and includes a chamber support unit, wherein the chamber support unit is dimensioned and configured to receive a hydration chamber in a supported relation therein. A dispensing tube is routed from the hydration chamber to the front of the vest assembly, for ready access by the user, through a dispensing tube retention channel.

A floatation member for ballistic carrier vest includes a first outer layer and an intermediate layer overlying the first outer layer. A peripheral edge of the intermediate layer is secured to a peripheral edge of the first outer layer to define a first cavity therebetween. A panel selected from a non-ballistic panel and a ballistic panel is received within the first cavity. A second outer layer overlies the intermediate layer and a peripheral edge of the second outer layer secured to the peripheral edge of the intermediate layer to define a second cavity therebetween. A valve configured to deliver an inflation gas into the second cavity. In a further aspect, a ballistic safety article for providing ballistic protection for a person is provided.

A floatation member for ballistic carrier vest includes a first outer layer and an intermediate layer overlying the first outer layer. A peripheral edge of the intermediate layer is secured to a peripheral edge of the first outer layer to define a first cavity therebetween. A panel selected from a non-ballistic panel and a ballistic panel is received within the first cavity. A second outer layer overlies the intermediate layer and a peripheral edge of the second outer layer secured to the peripheral edge of the intermediate layer to define a second cavity therebetween. A valve configured to deliver an inflation gas into the second cavity. In a further aspect, a ballistic safety article for providing ballistic protection for a person is provided.

A buoyancy-adjustable swim training vest for a user has a polymer-neoprene fabric formed garment member designed to substantially circumscribe the user's torso from neck to waist. A lower front of the vest has a front cover coupled to the vest and is vertically liftable. A back portion has a right side and a left side elastic wing members extending from a lower back portion designed to wrap frontward around the user's torso and detachably couple by respective hook and loop assemblies to each other, the vest, and the front cover, all coupled beneath the cover. An at least one polymer strap may be coupled detachably and adjustably by a latch to a buckle disposed on a lower edge of the front of the vest. At least one substantially sealable back pocket is disposed on an outer surface of the lower back portion of the vest designed to hold removable buoyant pads.

A buoyancy-adjustable swim training vest for a user has a polymer-neoprene fabric formed garment member designed to substantially circumscribe the user's torso from neck to waist. A lower front of the vest has a front cover coupled to the vest and is vertically liftable. A back portion has a right side and a left side elastic wing members extending from a lower back portion designed to wrap frontward around the user's torso and detachably couple by respective hook and loop assemblies to each other, the vest, and the front cover, all coupled beneath the cover. An at least one polymer strap may be coupled detachably and adjustably by a latch to a buckle disposed on a lower edge of the front of the vest. At least one substantially sealable back pocket is disposed on an outer surface of the lower back portion of the vest designed to hold removable buoyant pads.

A body-enhanced life jacket includes a life jacket and an undergarment within the life jacket. The undergarment is configured to shape and provide support for a user's breasts.