Abstract: A personal floatation device (PFD) comprising an inflatable bladder which is attached to the wearer by a waist belt and anchor straps joined to a second belt attached directly to the bladder. Both a gas cartridge device and a oral device are provided for inflating the bladder. The gas nozzle through which the gas enters the bladder from the gas cartridge includes a plurality of gas paths which permit gas flow substantially perpendicular to the gas inlet nozzle axis thus overcoming difficulties in inflating the PFD caused by the extremely cold gas vented from the cartridge freezing the bladder material of the PFD in the vicinity of the gas inlet nozzle. a similar gas inlet nozzle can also be used for the oral inflation device.