It is divided into six specific chapters: 1) a brief introduction to the problem; 2) the physiology of cold water immersion; 3) the research that has been conducted to protect the human from the dangers of sud- den cold water immersion; 4) the design and development of current immersion suits; 5) the interrelation- ship between the immersion suit and the lifejacket, and 6) a review of the different groups of people who fly over, work on or play on the water and what protection these groups need.