A life raft is a specialized form of personal flotation device, typically designed with high-visibility colors and equipped with distress-signal equipment, such as flares and signal mirrors. It is a lightweight, compact and inflatable vessel, usually constructed from durable, water-resistant materials to withstand tough marine conditions. Though some models are open-air, many have overhead canopy covers to provide protection from sun and rain and to help prevent hypothermia in cold water conditions. While primarily used in maritime ship or boat evacuations, life rafts also have applications in aircraft water landings. Upon inflation, they should provide a stable, buoyant platform capable of safely supporting abandoned crew and passengers until rescue operations can be completed. Some designs can be self-righting or can be righted manually if capsized. They may additionally contain emergency rations, water, medical kits and other survival gear to sustain individuals adrift at sea. Life rafts are seen as an essential tool for preserving lives in emergency evacuation scenarios.

1. After the ship encountered a severe storm and started sinking, the survivors used a life raft to stay afloat until they were rescued by a passing vessel. 2. Upon being forced to make an emergency water landing, the passengers on the small airplane used a life raft as a means of survival to await rescue. 3. During their deep-sea fishing expedition, the boat's engine failed. The fishermen floated safely on a life raft until the coast guard arrived. 4. When the cruise ship experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure, the crew deployed the life rafts for all passengers, providing a safe and immediate evacuation method. 5. During naval exercises, a simulated drill required sailors to evacuate their vessel using a life raft, demonstrating the crucial role these rafts play during emergencies.

Fun fact about Life rafts: When we think about inflatable life rafts, we often imagine just a basic floating device with oars. However, modern life rafts are a marvel of survival gear. They not only inflate automatically in water but also come packaged with a host of survival equipment including water purifying tablets, flares, insulation blankets, fishing kits, first aid supplies, flashlights, and even seasickness pills! Some advanced rafts are even equipped with reverse osmosis pumps to desalinate seawater, GPS navigators, and solar powered satellite phones. Imagine that—a veritable survival hotel packed into a suitcase-sized container that pops open into a life-saving island in open water!