Lifejackets are likely the most essential safety device for water-based outdoor recreation. US Coast Guard boating accident data indicate a direct correlation between the rate of death from boating accidents and whether the person was wearing a properly fit lifejacket. Understating what type of lifejacket to choose for each activity, how to properly fit a lifejacket, the multiple safety roles lifejackets play, and the special circumstances for both fit and function given different disabilities could mean the difference between life and death.