How To Choose A PFD - History Of The PFD

Origins

Ancient instances of the lifejacket can be traced back to simple blocks of wood or cork used by Norwegian seamen. The modern lifejacket is generally credited to one Captain Ward, a Royal National Lifeboat Institution inspector in the United Kingdom, who, in 1854, created a cork vest to be worn by lifeboat crews for both weather protection and buoyancy.

"Mae West"

The Mae West was a common nickname of the inflatable life preserver, which was invented in 1928 by Peter Markus (1885-1974) (US Patent 1694714) with his subsequent improvements in 1930 and 1931.

70% of all boating fatality accidents result from drowning.
Almost 90% of those who drown are not wearing a life jacket!