Life Jacket Definitions

As noted in Unit 1, the definition of a life jacket has evolved over the years. Below are the technical definitions currently used in certifications for North America.

• Life Jacket (Lifejacket): A garment or device that, when worn correctly and used in water, will maintain the user in a face-up flotation position, without additional action, with various levels of performance suitable for open waters. When tested to the relevant part of the applicable standard, a life jacket has a buoyancy distribution sufficient to turn most users, wearing swimming attire, to a position where the mouth is clear of the water even when exhausted.
• Buoyancy Aid: A garment or device that, when worn correctly and used in water, will provide support without significant face-up turning ability, except for infant devices, and therefore may require action by the user to position the face clear of the water. A buoyancy aid provides suitable performance in sheltered waters, and at higher levels of support, may be suitable for use in other waters.

Both life jackets and buoyancy aids are subsets of:

• Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): Garments or devices which, when worn correctly and used in water, will provide the user with a specific amount of buoyancy, which will increase the likelihood of survival.

While all approved life jackets and buoyancy aids are considered PFDs, simply using any one of these names does not mean they meet the relevant approval standards.

Check the device for a U.S. Coast Guard– and/or Transport Canada–approved label. Read the label carefully to ensure the device meets legal requirements and is not restricted for your intended activity.