Emergency self inflating floatation

[SoCalSurfing]

Wondering if such a product exists: a small self inflating floatation device.

It would be really nice to have that extra piece of mind, as a backup for a worst case scenario, when the waves get a bit bigger.

Ideally, something that would wrap around the waist or down the back, laying completely flat and not even noticeable - and then with the the pull of a string, inflate to just enough to help keep us above if needed.

Anything like this

Thank You.

[dtc]

Most top line life jackets nowadays work this way and are no longer the huge bulky things from the past. Useful for rock fishing, for example. Google 'inflatable life jacket' or PFD. They aren't tiny tiny but could be worn surfing I think . Also there is a cabelas inflatable belt pack which might be more what you are thinking about

The risks for these in surfing are that you can't use them if unconscious and sometimes you might not want to be floating (eg ducking under a wave vs being a cork). Potentially you could get around the latter by getting a jacket that only just floated you (ie designed for a lower weight) so you could duck a bit.

So it won't always work but I can see the benefit at times. Obviously swimming ability overcomes the issue most of the time, but if you are injured and lose your board it could be useful

Another risk mitigator is getting a very strong leg ripe eg 7mm or 8mm

[oldmansurfer]

Patagonia makes one but as far as I know it isn't available for normal humans. There is a site called towsurfer.com that has a couple manual inflatable devices (one inflatable vest and one inflatable rashie) and spare air devices. Bilabong has an inflatable wetsuit for big wave surfing but as far as I know it is manual inflation. I just re-read your post and those devices are all pull cord inflation devices.

[benjl]

Funnily enough i've been wondering about a similar idea for a while and was wanting to post it on here.

My idea was slightly different: I wondered if a small mouthpiece and oxygen tube could be sewn in to a closeable pocket in the chest or outer leg of a wetsuit from the factory so that if held down, a surfer could rip it out and get an extra 30secs of oxygen or something.
Something very small but potentially life saving under the right cicumstance??

I agree that something flotation wise could potentially cause more trouble than good in the wrong circumstances

[jaffa1949]

The best answer I can think of is proper training and fitness to be able to handle the more extreme situations because if you are unconscious no aid is going to work, most monster tow in guys wear a flotation vest, but they do have issues of paddle out or duckdiving.
Various government bodies have attempted to make flotation vests compulsory at times.
The buddy system is a great life saver, look out for other people in the surf and offer a hand or help.
Realistically how many of us are going to surf in extreme surf? Not me for one

[oldmansurfer]

Some of the inflatable vests have multiple CO2 canisters so you can deflate and reinflate multiple times without taking the vest or suit off. And Benjil check out the towsurfer.com site it has air supply that goes with a vest with pockets for it. I think for those who surf big waves these devices give a sense of control over catastrophic wipeouts. They may not use them but feel more comfortable having them.

[benjl]

some of that stuff is pretty cool and glad to see that there is some high-tech saftey stuff out there.

I agree that most of us aren't ever going to surf extreme waves but i've still had a couple of bad hold downs and not everyone always has the required fitness or training to survive an unfortunate event or bad timing of events.
I thought a miniature emergncy o2 kit that could be strapped to someones leg or something could be a life saver 'just incase' rather than for necessity of the conditions or size

[Jester]

I got held in an extra long rinse cycle today and I gotta say OMS' advice of being in shape is invaluable..I'm sure I am in better cardio shape these days and was just able to ride it out without that horrible feeling of panic rising. The fitter you are, the longer a hold down you can survive.

[oldmansurfer]

What I think is if you are in shape the you don't feel like it's such a big deal to held under a little. Most people in reasonable health can hold their breath for 20 seconds yet wipe out on a wave and get held under for 3 seconds and they are like panicked out. They don't need to breath but they feel like they need to. As you get cardio fit then that panic feeling goes away. On small waves you aren't going to be held under more than a few seconds so anyone should be able to handle that as long as they don't panic. It's just that when you don't have cardio fitness you may feel like you have to breath and panic then that makes it all worse since when you panic you use up more oxygen.

[jaffa1949]

Have a look at this post re breath holding and relaxation.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=24298

[farside]

Your wish is my command.....

http://www.aqualifeglobal.com/content/p ... index.html

[300thumper]

I thought about something for my daughter. I think it leads to complacency and a lack of training. Nothing beats respect and knowledge through experience. For me i jump rope and hold my breath and take the stairs at work and do breath holds. Going up only just in case . Im no expert but I have had a few sketchy hold downs bodyboarding that keep me training further. Train out of the water and learn relaxation. More people drown in shallow water blackouts so if you practice in The surf dont do it alone.

[SoCalSurfing]

farside,

The shirt vest is exactly what I am looking for (although the wetsuit doesn't look bad either).

Do you have the shirt? I am curious to know how it feels..constricting or like it is not there?

Can I wear it over my wetsuit?


300thumper,

I do agree. I do not want temptation for complacency and want to keep increasing my fitness.

however, it would be nice to know it is there in the worst case...struggling with this one...

[waikikikichan]

While wearing such floatation device ( vest, suit, etc. ) how are you going to dive deep to avoid being impacted by the falling lip of the wave ? When are you going to "deploy" such device ? During the rag doll phase or when you get to the surface ? Just as the second wave of the clean up set is right on top of you. Some things to think about.