Title: A systematic review for lifejackets

Authors: Ruiliang Yang; Zhiwei Zhang; Libin Yang

Addresses: School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China ' School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China

Abstract: Lifejackets are effective devices for preventing drowning deaths; however, their wearing rate remains alarmingly low. This systematic review conducts a thorough analysis of lifejackets, providing essential foundational information regarding the factors contributing to their low usage and effective strategies for their research and development. Several major English databases were meticulously examined to identify studies related to lifejackets. This paper encompasses studies on lifejackets that address drowning prevention published after 2009. In contrast, literature pertaining to lifejackets that is not focused on drowning prevention, as well as non-research and non-review publications, is excluded from the scope of this study. A total of 93 studies were included in the analytical framework. The findings indicate that the wearing rate of lifejackets is indeed very low, but it can be significantly improved through legislative measures or educational initiatives. Currently, many lifejackets available on the market do not meet relevant safety standards, posing significant challenges to effective drowning prevention. To address the issue of low wearing rates and improve search and rescue efficiency, this paper presents three recommendations.

Keywords: lifejacket; drowning; wearing rate; positioning device.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2026.153140

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2026 Vol.20 No.2, pp.139 - 155

Received: 10 Nov 2024
Accepted: 30 Jan 2025
Published online: 23 Apr 2026 *

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