Abstract: A life jacket comprises a back panel defining a first flotation pocket and adapted to lie adjacent a wearer's back and a front panel defining a second flotation pocket, the front panel being connected with the back panel and adapted to lie adjacent the wearer's front. A pocket member is hingedly attached to and supported from the front panel and is adapted to contain and retain emergency accessories. The pocket member includes a relatively stiff plate member having an inner surface facing toward the front panel when the pocket member is closed and an outer surface facing away from the front panel when the pocket member is closed. The pocket member includes a third flotation pocket that is defined by two layers of a flexible material. Flotation material is located in the first, second and third flotation pockets.