Summertime fodder...

I like body-surfing and have done it at Florida and Carolinas beaches for many years. What if something went wrong...

E.g. a couple summers ago my uncle and my dad both almost drowned in a rip tide. They struggled against it toward shore (*WRONG* thing go do), then came to their senses and swam parallel to the beach until the current was less strong, but by then they were almost too weak to make it back.

Let's say I'm fairly tired already, but not exhausted, from an active afternoon body-surfing. I plan to call it quits soon, but get caught in a severe rip tide. (BTW my uncle and dad were caught in a mild one.) There were no rip-tide warnings posted, so it is a case of bad luck not stupidity. After 10 seconds of near-panic, I force myself to calm down and gently swim on my back parallel to the beach, but I get swept out much farther than normal.

I don't know if the following is realistic [opinions on this point are welcome], but since I'm making this up, let's say it is hard to get back to shore for some reason -- prevailing wind, leg cramp, offshore current, etc. I'm going to be out here for a while -- what could I have realistically carried on my person that would help me now?

Let's say I have zippered pockets on my bathing suit. No boogie-board, 'cause I don't use one. Whatever you propose should not hinder normal swimming.

Best to all,
Steve

Going into the water is no different than taking a hike. Do people know your body surfing? Are there people on the beach, a lifeguard? I am not a strong swimmer. I am, in fact anything but gracile in the water. But I somehow acquired a sense of familiarity with salt water opposite of my deep phobia for clorinated public swimming pools. I learned to RELAX and literally 'go with the flow' much as a judo master uses an opponent's own momentum and mass. Practise the 'Deadman's float' and to conserve energy. Water is no different than a hiking trail. Seek a map; from experienced users, observations of the current conditions etc.

Assuming you aren't solo at a deserted beach, a minimalist kit that would likely get attention and rescue would be a waterproof signal mirror and a Storm Whistle on a secure safety lanyard.

Try a body suit with one of those thin air line May Wests underneath where it won't show. The body suit is boyant and if you needed it the May west it could be moved to the outside of the suit and inflated.

or one like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/4000-Offshore-power-life-jacket-inflatable-PFD_W0QQitemZ300134349430

I know it isn't what you want to hear, but: Personal flotation device and PLB.

-john

I can't add anything to what should be carried, but your post comes just a week after an article in the local paper:
Rip current article

I thought it was interesting that they're trying to predict rip tides/currents using cameras on the surf. Pretty cool.
Jason

a break and shake light for visibility at night?

Kiddie arm floaties... in international orange, of course! They keep you afloat and can be used as a signaling flag.

1. stay calm
2. have a whistle
3. maybe add belt pack inflatable pdf...you can get them for around 70 bucks from stearns I think.

I doubt you can really fool around with much gear while you are trying to save yourself in a riptide. The more you fool with gear, the more you using up energy.

I used to swim laps everyday and noticed how much more energy it took to swim the same distance in the ocean, much of the fatigue attributable to not being used to the unpredictable environment. But I did notice that once I relaxed, and found my stroke and breathing rhythm, swimming (parallel to the shore) was much easier, even in a slight chop. Having said that, when you do any activity long enough you can feel when your body has reached its half-way fatigue point. I'd say, along with all the other great safety advice, make sure you don't go past your half-way point, especially in the water.

Means of signaling have been suggested.

OK a couple of commercial PFD's also.

But you don't want to be obvious. You don't want to be singled out on the beach. Who goes swiming at the beach in a lifevest. Even one that is uninflated.

You have a pocket. Why not put a couple or three 1 Gallon Zip Loc bags in your pocket. Then if you need floatation Simply inflate and zip shut you have a pillow of air.

So you can only use 2. One under each arm. Why did I suggest 3? Depending on the time you need you might lose one. Or one could get a hole in it while stored in the pocket. You are not going to remove and replace them every swim session. The third is sort of an installed spare.

Good idea, but maybe too small. In Lowe's the other day, in the section that has shelves and plastic storage bins, I saw Zip-lock bags that were being marketed as storage containers. They looked like they could hold a throw-pillow from a sofa! I'd guess they're about a 5-gal size.

Great topic, Steve. This is a fine example of a reasonably possible survival scenario. It doesn't always have to be "Robinson Crusoe" or a plane crash in the Andes.

Like any challenging situation, the priorities should be

1) Mindset
2) Tactics
3) Skill
4) Equipment

Mindset: "I will plan ahead, and I will survive!"
Tactics: "Swim parallel to the beach to exit the current. Notify friends that I'll be out surfing"
Skill: "Be a fit and capable swimmer. Know how to use basic signaling devices"

Some observations on Equipment:

- Buoyancy would be very desirable. Perhaps consider using a boogie board that is tethered to your ankle. Adapt your style because in a tough swimming situation, extra buoyancy would be very welcome.

- Signaling: signal mirror, bright & focused waterproof flashlight, whistle. Maybe add a small strobe. Very effective, light and small. However you carry these small items, consider keeping them tethered on dummy cords made from de-cored 550 cord or something. They would be easy to lose when you open your pocket while swimming in an emergency. Consider having a cellphone in a waterproof case.

- There are various models of drybag-style waist packs out there that you could use for a little extra gear. Here and here are some examples. You might be able to surf with one of these and not attract too much attention.

- Do you do your surfing with goggles? If not, consider toting a small pair and a noseclip to help prevent aspiration while swimming in choppy conditions.

Something similar to this happened to me once. Except instead of riptide or wind or some other condition, it was caused by my own stupidity. I was with a group of people at Virginia beach, when we noticed a herd of dolphins swimming pretty close to the shore. I get it into my head to try and swim out to them. I'm not a strong swimmer, but they didn't look that far out. Long story short, I swam much too far out. I was there with a group of people, they knew what I was doing, but there was nothing they could do to help me. I wore myself out completely swimming back, I crawled onto the shore exhausted. I don't know if there was anything I could have carried to increase my chances.

Thanks for the ideas, I'll give a report next time I go body-surfing. Followup thoughts...

Another flotation option is one of those travel pillows that wrap around the back of your head; I have no idea if it would work well.

I've heard of compact belt-type PFDs but the only one I could find is this one . Anyone know of something smaller? I'd have to secure that activation cord somehow to prevent it going off unexpectedly.

My bathing suit with zippered pockets is "traditional" size but I bet there are "longer leg" varieties with larger pockets, maybe cargo pockets

Folks listed many items I did not think of. Some others might include

• Button compass for overcast days or the sun is too high to figure out which way to swim (use a map beforehand to familiarize yourself with how the coastline runs).
• One-time packet containing a sunscreen-impregnated moist towelette. Quite tiny and I've been glad before that I carry one in my belt pack kit.
• A shortened version of the RescueStreamer
• Something to shade your eyes, whether disposable optometrist glasses or just a small cloth.
• Would a keychain-type LED flashlight with a flashing mode be bright enough to do any good?

I don't know how workable the the items above would be in practice and there is always the issue of what to keep and what to leave when you can't take it all.

If a rip tide is not a plausible scenario to you, many of the items folks have suggested would also be useful if you were boating and somehow fell out without being noticed. Ignoring the wisdom of it for a moment, imagine nobody is wearing their life jacket because you are required to just have them in the boat. Over you go and it takes a few seconds to come up and cough out all the water you gulped in. By then your cry for help is carried away by the wind...

And lastly, somewhat unrelated, whenever I go to locations where people are fishing I like to have some kind of wire cutters to deal with getting hooked - BTDT.

Thanks to all,
Steve

I was thinking that an important detail regarding whatever emergency flotation option you choose is to consider how you will attach it to yourself. If you must hug/hold on to the flotation it will sap more strength from you quicker. Consider some type of tether or strap so that you don't have to exert so much strength to hold on to it.

I definitely agree with you about the compass. Brunton makes some good little accessory compasses, including pin-on and watchband models. I wear their watchband compass every day and it has held up well.

Years ago, there was a cigarette pack sized flotation device advertised in outdoor magazines. You just gave the pack a firm squeeze and it inflated into a PFD. I haven't seen any ads for these in a very long time, but I wonder if they are still available.

+1 for signal mirror, whistle and high-vis marking tape (do they make glow in the dark marking tape yet?). what about a small amount of vaseline...saltwater sores are apparently SUPER debilitating when out for a while in salt water.

i cant imagine one would last very long in the open water without a PFD of some sort. im willing to bet that with a little ingenuity one could easily build a small, unobtrusive waist pack that could sit small of the back and fit all the little goodies one's heart could desire, including a inflatable PFD.


anyone keeping up with Shark Week. yikes!

It sounds to me like a US Navy Mae West would fit the bill very well for body surfing. There is a spot to clip on the single "D" cell strobe light, a place to tie off a signal whistle and signal mirror.

I used to wear one (a Mae West) on Flight Ops in the WW2 style (deployed & deflated) and I always found a little extra room in the storage bag for a few granola bars.

Using what is available today in the way of water pouches and other appropriate survival equipment tidbits, I think it would fit the bill very nicely. The Mae West has a co2 cartridge and a separate tube for manually inflating.

Very interesting topic. I saw someone in another forum suggest a large Aloksak as an ad-hoc flotation device. Much stronger and more waterproof than ziplocks. Obviously, *very* last ditch, but it can be folded up in your swimsuit pocket and would provide a good buoyancy boost for as long as it stayed inflated. Don't depend on it, but perhaps okay insurance?

An original Mae West vest, if you can even find one, is pretty large and bulky. I would think that a more modern PFD, either a belt pack , or a slightly larger PFD would fit the bill better...

What about snorkeling inflatable vests...they are cheaper at least.