In light of the increasingly complex situation of flooding and heavy rains, netizens have proposed several ideas for creating life jackets and floating rafts using recycled materials to provide some assistance to the affected residents.
Life jackets are one of the essential safety items during the flood season, helping to minimize loss of life. However, many stores selling life jackets report that due to high demand, these products are out of stock, and no matter how much buyers are willing to pay, they cannot find any available for sale.
The idea of using discarded plastic bottles to create life jackets emerged three years ago during the “Community Initiative 2017” competition organized in collaboration with the Discover Magazine and the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City. The creators of this initiative are three students: Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Trâm, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Nhung, and Võ Thị Ngọc Lan (5th grade, Bình Mỹ Primary School, Bình Mỹ Hamlet, Bình Khánh Commune, Cần Giờ District).
Trâm shared that this invention stemmed from the practical situation in their living area. “I was born and raised in the riverside countryside of Cần Giờ. When going to school, I realized that the journey to school for many students is fraught with difficulties. In my area, children who live far away must travel by boat to attend school.
Life in their families is quite tough and challenging, making it difficult to equip them with a life jacket in case of accidents. Thus, we came up with the idea to design life jackets to give to our friends,” the student explained.
To create this product, the group members tied together five 1.5-liter plastic bottles using rope. Then, to ensure the bottles remain secure while in use, they used fishing line to fasten the rope to the bottles. Additionally, Trâm and her friends attached safety buckles, allowing users to easily adjust the size to fit.
The materials for making these recycled life jackets are quite simple. The students collected discarded water bottles from nearby grocery stores, while the rope and glue were donated by their teachers. The buckles were reused from old life jackets.
Two children creating life jackets from plastic bottles.
Reader Quốc Ấn Mai commented on his personal page: “I see many individuals mobilizing to buy life jackets for people during the flood season. The cost is quite high and burdensome, not to mention the long transportation time from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.”
Utilizing plastic bottles to make life jackets is a form of recycling plastic waste, which is excellent for the environment. Especially in areas that are still dry before the floods hit, this can be implemented immediately. Young volunteers, military personnel, police, philanthropists, or any citizens, including children, can participate in this effort. This solution can also be carried out post-flood to hang on ceilings for next year’s use.”
Ms. Hoàng Thị Hiền – Global Creative Education Expert at Microsoft and CEO of X-GEN Education Co. Ltd – shares a similar viewpoint. Recently, she called upon the community of teachers and students to join hands in learning about and implementing projects to create recycled rafts and life jackets to support the people in Central Vietnam.
A type of floating raft made from recycled plastic bottles.
Sharing on her personal page, Ms. Hiền wrote: “Areas that are not affected by floods should support flood-affected areas; areas with less flooding should help those with more; and areas at risk of flooding should prepare in advance. It is better to wear life jackets made from bottles and float on rafts made from bottles than to wait on rooftops for the floodwaters to rise.”
Mr. Trần Thanh Điểu – owner of Yorda, a company specializing in natural stone products – has proposed using large-diameter plastic pipes to create floating rafts. According to him, this is a quick solution to help those in flood-prone areas. “The materials are readily available locally, and assembly is quick and mobile,” he shared on his personal page. Mr. Điểu even provided raft design blueprints for anyone interested in making their own.
A model of a floating raft made from large-diameter pipes.
Blueprint of a plastic pipe raft.
Overall, the online community appreciates the efforts of recycling old materials to create life jackets and floating rafts. Many people have commented that these inventions are very creative and practical, and the simple methods allow households in flood-prone areas to equip themselves proactively. Although there are still many limitations, these are useful solutions that deserve to be widely shared in the current urgent situation.
