Two entrepreneurs from Tarn have developed a special anti-drowning T-shirt for children. Their invention has just been awarded at the Lépine 2023 competition. What is it exactly?
This Sunday, May 7, during the Paris fairthe two co-founders of Floatee, Philippe Rouvier and Thibaut Choulet, were rewarded for their anti-drowning t-shirt for children from 18 months to 6 years. This company from the Tarn has obtained not one but 4 distinctions for their invention, including the gold medal of the Lépine 2023 competition and the prize of the City of Paris. For the start-up, “it is THE recognition that our anti-drowning t-shirt is a real innovative solution to save lives”, she posted on her Facebook page. Because behind this seemingly simple t-shirt hides an ingenious system that can prevent drowning in children. As a reminder, in figures, in the summer of 2021, 22% of accidental drownings affected children under the age of 6.
This children’s T-shirt turns into a life jacket when it comes into contact with water
After years of testing and research, Floatee has developed an anti-drowning t-shirt for children from 18 months to 6 years old, made in France in Occitania, recognizable thanks to its sailor pattern and bright colors. The particularity of the garment is that in contact with water, it converts in three seconds into a life jacket. “It is planned for trigger in the event of immersion in water, whether for a fall, a slide or a voluntary swim”, details Philippe Rouvier on the brand’s Instagram account. The T-shirt will inflate thanks to a trigger system and an inflatable lung, placed in the garment. “It’s a CO2 cartridge that will inflate the jersey’s lungs. The t-shirt will bring the child to the surface and turn it over”, explained Thibaut Choulet to our colleagues from France 3 Occitania.
Once inflated, the tee acts as a life jacket or life ring. The child is returned by the force of the inflation, and its airway is secured out of the water. Also to know that the t-shirt is certified anti-UV UPF50+ to protect children’s skin from the sun’s rays when they are in the water.
The History of the Anti-Drowning T-Shirt for Kids
The idea of the anti-drowning t-shirt for children came to Philippe Rouvier and Thibaut Choulet during their studies in engineering school. At the time, in 2015, it was just a simple student project, but in May 2021, when Philippe Rouvier attended the drowning of a child, the click occurs. With his colleague, they then decide to embark 100% on this project, which they consider “useful to society”. Months of development, multiple studies, the first prototypes and the creation of the Floatee company followed.
In May 2022, Floatee team completes the first finalized version of anti-drowning tee and a few months later, they get said sesame: obtaining European marketing certification, which is based in particular on the ISO 12402 standard for lifejackets. The Tarn company is continuing its efforts, embarking on online crowdfunding and participating in the issue of M6 “Who wants to be my partner”. This is the beginning of the success story!