An inflatable vest is a safety device designed to protect the wearer from drowning in water. These vests are often used in water sports such as sailing, fishing, canoeing or other water activities. The vest contains a mechanism that allows it to quickly inflate either manually or automatically when the vest detects contact with water. Once inflated, the vest provides sufficient buoyancy to keep a person afloat, even in an unconscious state. Some models of inflatable vests may offer additional features such as light signals, whistles for emergency situations or reflective stripes for better visibility in the dark.