Abstract: A personal flotation, rescue, and evacuation device includes a vest worn overhead by a user. The user's head fits through a central opening formed in the vest. The vest includes a front chest portion and a rear back portion. A lateral sleeve is disposed at a lower end of the rear vest portion. A buoyant structure having a pair of free ends fits through the sleeve. The free ends of the buoyant structure are wrapped around the user's waist and connected in front to form a waist belt flotation structure. The vest incorporates a hood having a frame component at its front edge. When deployed, the hood remains in an erect, lofted condition and creates a canopy effect surrounding the user's head. The hood is connected at its lower end to another flotation element arranged in a collar configuration. This collar-type flotation element is connected in front to the waist belt flotation structure.