Knowra Personal flotation device Personal flotation device A wearable or throwable device that provides buoyancy to help keep a person afloat in water. Designs range from inherently buoyant foam vests to inflating devices.
Buoyancy : The upward force a fluid exerts on an immersed object, opposing its weight. A flotation device works by displacing enough water to support a person's weight.
Type I personal flotation device : A high-buoyancy flotation device intended for offshore use, with strong turning and face-up support. Its design targets conditions where rescue may take time.
Life preserver : A general term for equipment intended to keep a person afloat, often used for a lifejacket or ring buoy. The term overlaps with personal flotation device but can suggest particular wearable or throwable designs.
Drowning prevention : Measures that reduce the risk of drowning in water-related settings. Wearing a suitable flotation device is one preventive measure among supervision, barriers, and rescue readiness.
Life jacket : A flotation garment designed to support a person in water and, in some designs, turn an unconscious wearer face-up. This wearable type offers more flotation and turning support than many general-purpose vests.
Type II personal flotation device : A flotation device intended for calm inland water, designed to turn some wearers face-up. It balances basic turning support with simpler near-shore use.
Lifebuoy : A ring-shaped buoyant device thrown to someone in the water for support or rescue. Unlike a wearable flotation device, it must be reached and held or put on.
Cold shock response : An involuntary gasp, rapid breathing, and cardiovascular reaction triggered by sudden immersion in cold water. A flotation device can keep a person supported during the initial period of cold-water immersion.
Inflatable life jacket : A life jacket that gains buoyancy when a gas cartridge or oral tube inflates its chambers. Its compact, uninflated form depends on reliable activation and inflation.
Type III personal flotation device : A flotation device intended for calm water where rescue is expected quickly, often shaped for comfort and mobility. Its comfort suits active boating, but it may not turn an unconscious wearer face-up.
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