A life preserver is a personal flotation device that can be deployed from a vessel or from land to provide an individual with a means of maintaining boyancy in water, thereby preventing drowning. Life preservers are often provided as a standard safety device on airplanes, ships, and docks, to be used in the event of a human's unexpected visit into the water.

Life preservers are usually torus shaped when mounted at the ready on the deck of a ship, but also are made in the shape of a vest which can be worn by passengers during an evacuation. The torus shaped life preserver has the advantage of being easily thrown to a distressed person, offering more surface area than a closed shape for a hand to purchase, and being easily donned even in turbulent conditions.

See also

• Mae West (life preserver)