A Watch in Taiwan Provides a Helping Hand

台湾救生表 水中伸援手



本则影音新闻出处：新唐人电视台英语新闻

【新闻关键字】

1. drown: v. 溺毙

2. mass: n. 量

3. inflate: v. 充气

4. wrist: n. 手腕

5. creek: n. 小溪（美式）

6. gadget: n. 小装置

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.

水上运动风行世界，在台湾也广受欢迎，但带来趣味的同时，也可能带来危险。溺毙是近几十年来造成意外死亡的主要原因，但许多人无视于这项统计数据，仍拒绝穿上救生衣。

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.

曾则凯（音译）从事水上运动已30年，5年前忽然灵机一动，想出一种有救生衣的功能，同时又能减轻身体负担的小装置。

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

他发明了附在腕表上且能够自行充气的气囊。

[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.”

救生表的发明者曾则凯说：“每年海岸和溪里都有溺毙意外发生。当然救生衣是最安全的防护措施，但是很多孩子不愿意穿。我们想到要发明一种小巧轻便的救生装置，希望防止这类意外再度发生。”

【新闻关键字】

7. trigger: v. 引发

8. flip: v. 轻弹

9. accessory: n. 配件

10. rafting: n. 漂筏运动

11. snorkeling（美式）/snorkelling（英式）: n. 浮潜活动（用呼吸管）

12. water-crafting: n. 水上摩托车活动

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.

腕表上有一小瓶二氧化碳，只要扳起开关就会充气到气囊里。瓶子本身也作为开关的把手，在紧急状况时可以很容易地扳开。

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.

这样的救生表每只要价仅80美元，在台湾的各大钓鱼及运动用品店都买得到。只要替换二氧化碳瓶就可以重复使用，每瓶价钱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.

然而这项产品已在架上放了一个多月了，一位钓鱼用品店的店员表示，很多顾客对这个产品有兴趣，但还是认为救生衣比较安全。

[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.”

钓鱼用品店店员谢伟兴（音译）说：“钓客最关心的还是浮力跟安全性。所以我认为这比较适合漂筏、浮潜或水上摩托车。”

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.

据世界卫生组织估计，单单在2002年就有37万6千人溺毙，在全球意外伤亡原因排名第三位，仅次于道路交通意外及跌落意外。

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(//www.dajiyuan.com)