Life jacket is a device that is worn to keep afloat in water. Most life jackets are filled with light material, such as kapok, plastic foam, fiberglass, cork, or balsa wood. They are often brightly colored to make them easily visible. Most have no sleeves, so the wearer’s arms can move freely. Some life jackets are also called life preservers or life vests.
Life jackets belong to a group of water-safety devices called personal flotation devices (PFD’s). Other PFD’s include buoyant cushions (floating pillows) and doughnut-shaped ring buoys. These devices can be thrown to a person in the water from a boat or from land. The person holds onto the cushion or buoy to keep afloat. The U.S. Coast Guard classifies PFD’s by their use in different water conditions.
