PFDs
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:52 pm
Would your PFD keep your mouth and nose above water if you were unconscious or incapacitated? Is this too much too expect of a PFD?
I don't think mine (a vest) would do so, (I will try it out by getting in the water and pretending to be knocked out), I doubt mine would keep my breathing holes out of water because it has no more flotation around the upper chest than it does around the upper back;
Maybe the weight of my legs would keep my body somewhat upright in the water, but probably not so perfectly as to prevent my face going into and out of the water repeatedly. The face would only have to be in the water a fraction of a second at a time to suck in enough water to initiate drowning I would guess.
I guess the question brings to bear the principal of practicing ahead of time all our worst –case scenarios where possible.
I don't think mine (a vest) would do so, (I will try it out by getting in the water and pretending to be knocked out), I doubt mine would keep my breathing holes out of water because it has no more flotation around the upper chest than it does around the upper back;
Maybe the weight of my legs would keep my body somewhat upright in the water, but probably not so perfectly as to prevent my face going into and out of the water repeatedly. The face would only have to be in the water a fraction of a second at a time to suck in enough water to initiate drowning I would guess.
I guess the question brings to bear the principal of practicing ahead of time all our worst –case scenarios where possible.