How to improvise a PFD
Recently I wrote about testing our inflatable PFDs to ensure that they’ll work if/when we ever need them too. Of course, a PFD is only going to be of any good if you happen to have one with you when you end up floating in the water. So what if you don’t have one?
In the Clive Custler book I just finished reading, Skeleton Coast, the main character Juan Cabrillo ends up floating in the ocean with a woman after their boat is blown up. What does he do? He removes his pants of course. No, not for that. Being the hero that he is he gets to work to make her an improvised floatation device. He first ties knots in the ends of his pant legs and when they are closed, he holds the pants up into the wind to fill them with air. After synching the waist closed to trap the air, he gives the pants to his lady friend to help her to stay afloat. Do you think he scored points with her for that?
Looks like a fun skill to practice.
We had also learned of a similar trick using rubber boots. If you end up floating in the water wearing a pair of rubber “Wellies,” you can remove them, dump out the water and once they’re filled with air, tuck one inverted boot under each arm (if you have a length of cord you could also tie them to each other). The trapped air in the boots will apparently help you to stay afloat.
Of course, both of these skills would require you to be able to float or tread water long enough to get it all sorted. Our only problem is that there would be significantly less buoyancy provided by board shorts and flip flops, our standard Caribbean attire.
I love Clive Cussler! I hope you never have to try out those techniques.
Me too!
The floating pants trick used to be standard practice at boy scout summer camp for guys working on their swimming merit badge. When I was 14 I actually used it when our shrimp boat capsized in a storm and we were in the water for 3 hours. It really works! (Always stick with the boat, even if it’s upside down). Of course being rescued in your underwear does have it’s drawbacks. I don’t guess it would be that important to me now, but it seemed important back then!
I’ve been enjoying your posts. Keep them coming!
WOW! I bet that’s a story.
We used to do the trouser thing in Navy survival training. Works good in a swimming pool. If there’s no wind, you hold them behind your head and bring them quickly forward to fill them with air.
Board shorts were not a uniform option at the time.
I don’t think it’s a navy option these days either. 🙂
Of course, if you wear fashionable jeans with fashionable tears here and there….
Exactly!
Excellent tips! Both of these techniques are seems to me helpful. But I don’t know swimming so I’m afraid I can’t check any of these floating tricks. Yap I learned a useful lesson and will came again to expand some more. Thanks 🙂