The difference between lifejackets and PFD's.

Historically, "lifejackets" were the only means of flotation available to people. Lifejackets were typically a horseshoe shaped collar that were very bulky and uncomfortable. They were viewed as safe because the buoyancy was distributed high around the face which enabled the product to self right the wearer to a face up position. Because they were uncomfortable to wear, lifejackets were only worn in an emergency situation, if you were lucky enough to get one on in time!

Today, most water related deaths occur because the person was not wearing a flotation device, and the majority of those people had one close by. Throughout the North American industry, there is an ongoing push to develop flotation devices that people will wear. As a result, throughout the 70's and 80's regulations evolved and categories for "PFD's", as we know them today, were developed.

Where a traditional lifejacket had approximately 35lbs of buoyancy, a PFD has a minimum of 15.5lbs of buoyancy. Where lifejackets were designed to self-right people into a face up position in the water, PFD's do not. PFD's do have a marginally higher amount of flotation in the front of the product to achieve a safe flotation angle, but they are designed for comfort as well as safety.

The evolution of traditional PFD's, and now inflatable PFD's has placed the onus on the consumer to make an appropriate choice for their activity and to wear their product in order to be safe.