Floating Jeans and shirts for Emergency Situations

[steve604]

This was part of drown proofing in boot camp. It works. There was also a technique where you float by just hanging limp. We had to do this for 45 minutes in 12 feet of water in order to pass the course. The big thing they taught was "if you don't panic, you don't drown" But as we all know the best way is the PFD.

Steve

[Moose1am]

You are talking about the Survival Float. I was taught this in life guard class and I had to teach this technique to Life Guards when I was a Water Safety Instructor.

Remember to tie the end of the shirt sleeve in a knot to trap any air inside the shirt. And I am not sure how bell bottoms will help if one has to tied the pant legs in a knot? Wouldn't that just negate the bell shape at the end of the pant legs?

You can also cup your hands and and push them down though the air into the water to get air bubbles to go into the pants to help fill them up with air. Hold the jeans with one hand and splash air bubbles into the opening with the other hand while treading water.

This was part of drown proofing in boot camp. It works. There was also a technique where you float by just hanging limp. We had to do this for 45 minutes in 12 feet of water in order to pass the course. The big thing they taught was "if you don't panic, you don't drown" But as we all know the best way is the PFD.

Steve