A Watch in Taiwan Provides a Helping Hand

台灣救生錶 水中伸援手



Ling-Yi Hsieh, David Lee

【新聞關鍵字】

1. drown: v. 溺斃

2. mass: n. 量

3. inflate: v. 充氣

4. wrist: n. 手腕

5. creek: n. 小溪（美式）

6. gadget: n. 小裝置

Water sports are popular in Taiwan as they are elsewhere around the world, but while they are fun, they can be dangerous. Drowning has been the leading cause of accidental death in recent decades but, despite the statistics, many people still avoid wearing life jackets.

水上運動風行世界，在台灣也廣受歡迎，但帶來趣味的同時，也可能帶來危險。溺斃是近幾十年來造成意外死亡的主要原因，但許多人無視於這項統計數據，仍拒絕穿上救生衣。

Tseng Tze-kui, who has done water sports for more than 30 years, came up with an idea five years ago of a smaller device that serves a similar purpose to the life jacket but reduces the mass on the body.

曾則凱（音譯）從事水上運動已30年，5年前忽然靈機一動，想出一種有救生衣的功能，同時又能減輕身體負擔的小裝置。

He has invented a self-inflating airbag attached to a wrist watch.

他發明了附在腕錶上且能夠自行充氣的氣囊。

[Tseng Tze-kui, Watch Inventor]:

“Every year, drowning accidents happen at seashore or creeks. Of course a life jacket is the safest protection but there are still many children who are unwilling to wear them. We thought about creating a simple light-weight lifesaving gadget, and hope to prevent these accidents from happening again in the future."

救生錶的發明者曾則凱說：「每年海岸和溪裡都有溺斃意外發生。當然救生衣是最安全的防護措施，但是很多孩子不願意穿。我們想到要發明一種小巧輕便的救生裝置，希望防止這類意外再度發生。」

【新聞關鍵字】

7. trigger: v. 引發

8. flip: v. 輕彈

9. accessory: n. 配件

10. rafting: n. 漂筏運動

11. snorkeling（美式）/snorkelling（英式）: n. 浮潛活動（用呼吸管）

12. water-crafting: n. 水上摩托車活動

A small bottle of carbon dioxide is attached to the wrist piece, and inflates into the airbag when triggered. The bottle also acts as a handle that can be easily flipped during emergencies.

腕錶上有一小瓶二氧化碳，只要扳起開關就會充氣到氣囊裡。瓶子本身也作為開關的把手，在緊急狀況時可以很容易地扳開。

At only $80 USD each, the watch is available at major fishing and sports accessory stores in Taiwan. It is reusable by replacing the carbon dioxide bottles, which cost just over a dollar.

這樣的救生錶每隻要價僅80美元，在台灣的各大釣魚及運動用品店都買得到。只要替換二氧化碳瓶就可以重複使用，每瓶價錢1美元多。

The product has been on the shelf for more than a month, and a salesman from a fishing shop in Taiwan said many customers ask about the product, but still prefered a life jacket which seemed more secure to them.

然而這項產品已在架上放了一個多月了，一位釣魚用品店的店員表示，很多顧客對這個產品有興趣，但還是認為救生衣比較安全。

[Shieh Wei-shih, Fishing Shop Salesman]:

“For fishermen, the floating capacity and safety are major concerns. So I think this is more suitable for rafting, snorkeling, or water-crafting."

釣魚用品店店員謝偉興（音譯）說：「釣客最關心的還是浮力跟安全性。所以我認為這比較適合漂筏、浮潛或水上摩托車。」

According to World Health Organization, an estimated 376,000 people drowned in 2002 alone, making it the third leading cause of unintentional injury death globally after road traffic injuries and falls.

據世界衛生組織估計，單單在2002年就有37萬6千人溺斃，在全球意外傷亡原因排名第三位，僅次於道路交通意外及跌落意外。

本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2009-07-23/953398607038.html