An inflatable necklace designed to be worn around the neck of a young child is provided. The necklace contains a sensor which, in response to a pre-determined period of immersion and/or a sudden increase in pressure, will activate a gas source which inflates one or more bladders which expand outwardly from the necklace. The inflated bladders provide sufficient buoyancy and floatation to keep a child afloat until the child can be rescued.