5. Swim as far underwater as possible.6. When you must come up for air, extend yourarms above your head, then pull them back in awide sweep to force the upper part of your bodyabove the surface.7. When you surface, use your hands and arms tomake wide sweeping movements across thesurface to splash the water and drive away theflames.NOTEAs you pop up above the surface, try toturnyour back to the wind before youtake a breath.8. Submerge again feet first, and repeat theprocedure until you’re clear of the burning oil.When going into oil that isn’t burning, save yourpreserver to use as a raft. Keep your face above thesurface. Keeping your head above the surface helpskeep oil from getting into your eyes and mouth.AIDS FOR STAYING AFLOAT.—If you’re inthe water without a life jacket, don’t become frightenedthat you can’t stay afloat—you can. Several articles ofclothing, including the white hat, provide someflotation when used properly. The most useful article isyour trousers or slacks, which you can inflate to serve aswater wings.1. To remove your trousers, lean forward in thewater and slowly slip them down over your hipsand legs. Don’t let go of them—they may sink.To inflate your trousers—2. Zip them; then float them on the surface with thefly or front turned down.3. Tie a knot in each leg as close to the cuff aspossible.4. Work the garment around on the surface untilthe legs are over your shoulders and the knotsare behind you, leaving the crotch in front ofyou.5. Grasp the waist of the trousers with one hand oneach side; then extend your arms straightupward, kicking your feet to get your body ashigh out of the water as you can.6. When this position is reached, pull the trousersdownward smartly on the surface, trapping apocket of air in each leg.7. Then gather the waist under the water and holdin one hand (fig. 15-3). Keep the trousers legswet by splashing water on them to reduce theloss of the trapped air.You may use mattress covers, sea bags, laundrybags, and pillowcases in a similar manner. A largeamount of debris, such as pieces of wood, empty shellboxes, powder cans, and so forth, is usually present. Youcan use this debris to stay afloat.SURVIVAL EQUIPMENTThe two basic categories of flotation devices are lifepreservers and lifeboats. Each is vital to the survival of aship’s crew if the ship sinks. Other than the lifeboat, thelife preserver (commonly called a life jacket) is the mostimportant piece of abandon ship equipment.The inherently buoyant (vest-type) preserver isdesigned so that, if adjusted properly, it supports youand keeps your head out of the water even if you areunconscious. With a life preserver on, you can stayafloat for many days. Without a life preserver, you havelittle chance of surviving in the water for any greatlength of time.The lifeboat presents the greatest chance of survivalbecause it contains food and water, provides shelterfrom the elements, and contains equipment that greatly15-4Student Notes:Figure 15-3.—Using inflated trousers/slacks for support.
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