"Float First:" Trapped Air Between Clothing Layers Significantly Improves Buoyancy After Immersion

Approximately 450,000 people drown annually worldwide. The capacity of immersed adults and children to float in clothing is less well understood, but it is possible that air trapped between clothing layers increases buoyancy. These studies aimed to quantify buoyancy and the practical implications th...

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Veröffentlicht in:International journal of aquatic research and education (Champaign, Ill.) Ill.), 2011-05, Vol.5 (2), p.147-163
Hauptverfasser: Barwood, MJ, Bates, V, Long, G, Tipton, MJ
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Approximately 450,000 people drown annually worldwide. The capacity of immersed adults and children to float in clothing is less well understood, but it is possible that air trapped between clothing layers increases buoyancy. These studies aimed to quantify buoyancy and the practical implications thereof. Study 1 (n= 24) quantified this buoyancy and the consequence of any buoyancy by measurement of airway freeboard (mouth to water level distance). Study 2 examined the capability of children (n = 29) to float with freeboard used as the outcome measure and is expressed as a percentage of occasions that freeboard was achieved. Buoyancy (measured in newtons; N) was provided for winter clothing as 105( plus or minus 12) N, for autumn/spring clothing as 87( plus or minus 13) N, and for summer clothing as 68( plus or minus 11) N. In all cases, buoyancy was greater than for the control condition of 61 ( plus or minus 11) N. Average freeboard was 63 ( plus or minus 2) % for winter clothing, 62( plus or minus 2) % for autumn/spring clothing, 66( plus or minus 2) % for summer clothing, and 15( plus or minus 1) % for the control condition. Children were more buoyant, 95( plus or minus 17) % freeboard, irrespective of gender, than adults. "Float first" is advocated as a primary survival mechanism.
ISSN:1932-9997