The apparent spike in triathlon swim deaths the last few weeks is so very sad. As a middle aged age grouper who is doing this for fun - and who has a wife and three kids whose are really relying on me to. E around - it also is a bit scary.
I did some reading and came across the SwimIt swim saftey device. You wear a small pouch on your leg and pull a lever if you get in trouble, which causes a life jacket to eject from the pouch. Anyone know anything about it. It’s usta race legal. There is virtually nothing on it on slowtwitch.
I know that many of these deaths are heart related. But even in that case, having the jacket may get attention and lead to a quicker rescue. And even though I feel very comfortable in the water, I can think of situations - getting a sever kick to the head or a sever cramp - when I might need it.
I just asked DC Rainmaker to do a review of this product and others like it. He’s going to try to get his hands on a couple at interbike which is in about a month.
I’m with you though. I like to swim in open water and it’s always a bit unnerving. If you get into trouble you have a serious problem; even if you have a buddy with you.
And even with kayaks around in a race, I like the idea of wearing belts and suspenders.
I have swum a couple of OWS with this buoy…it definitely gives peace of mind, especially as it retains to visibility.
It just so happens on my first swim with it, I got a small swell right in the face and swallowed some water. Coughing and dry heaving ensued…I was never in any kind of trouble, but just to check it out, I grabbed the buoy to see how it would work.
Definitely gave me added buoyancy and I could see w being able to grab it in an actual emergency could make a huge difference.
I am a proud owner of a SWIMIT and really believe in them. When on my leg, I dont feel it there and have done numerous OWS’s with it since I got it about half a year ago. Fortunately i havent had the need to deploy it, but the peace of mind it gives me in the case of an emergency is priceless! I also use it in the case a fellow swimmer is having trouble and Im nearbly to help. We are all part of a Triathlon family and I strongly believe in taking care of each other!
I know this device wont save you if your having a heatr attack, but it will surely provide you with floating support and hopefully some neccessary attention to lifeguards or someone that can come to your rescue.
At a $100 price point, Its a steal as my life and time with my family outweigh that by a million!
How much buoyancy does it add? I know on the website it says something like XX lbs of flotation, but that doesn’t mean much to me. Could you have it on an unconscious person and they would stay afloat? I know that situation wouldn’t happen, but I’m trying to find some baseline for the amount of buoyancy.
I have swum a couple of OWS with this buoy…it definitely gives peace of mind, especially as it retains to visibility.
It just so happens on my first swim with it, I got a small swell right in the face and swallowed some water. Coughing and dry heaving ensued…I was never in any kind of trouble, but just to check it out, I grabbed the buoy to see how it would work.
Definitely gave me added buoyancy and I could see w being able to grab it in an actual emergency could make a huge difference.
If I ever have to tie myself to a buoy to go swimming I’ll skip the swimming altogether. I have a 7 year old son and wouldn’t make him wear one of these. I wouldn’t even *let him *wear one.
I think the swimit is a great idea for someone wanting the added safety. However if the swimmers that died recently did have a cardiac event they most likely would not have had an oppertunity to pull a cord to inflate a device. An athlete going into sudden cardiac arrest would probably have no warning signs that would be noticable. Shortness of breath, dizzines, weakness and/or chest pain are all symptoms that an athlete could feel during a race of high intensity. Being a Fire Capt/Paramedic I have watched countless people go into cardiac arrest and even people sitting comfortably with no abnormal complaints just “die” (formnally speaking of cardiac arrest). The swimit device takes approximatly 5 seconds to deploy and put on (from watching the video). It also takes consious movement/effort to be able to put it on. A distressed swimmer from an unknown origin (cardiac issues, stroke, etc) would most likely not have the consious effort to do so or they would not be close to drowning. I am by no means saying this device is useless. It definetly could have its place. Swimming and going unconscious or into cardiac arrest is just a lethal combination. I would say the only thing that could be more benefical would be more kayakers and life guards paying brutally close attention to swimmers.
I would be curious to see the medical examiners report of the deaths and see if there was water in their lungs showing that they actually drowned after whatever caused their distress, or if they just happened to die in the water.
Either way it’s a really sad and disturbing thing that we have to discuss this.
Honestly with a pile of experience in professional water rescue, I think that teaching people to roll over on your back in a time of panic is a stronger message than an added buoyancy device. In a sense of panic, it may be great piece of mind to have one of the on your leg. However, that is under normal conditions. In the cases that appear to be happening, add a cardiac event, or something else that can very seriously debilitate you and your good senses, and keeping your head above the water becomes the first thought. Trust that a person in a serious panic in the water would drown you to keep their head above the water. (not purposely, just a panic physical reaction)
If you are able to recognize any irregularity or issue that may cause some panic, you are generally wearing a wetsuit. This is the best flotation you could ask for in a race condition. Furthermore, most people can float as it is. Positioning yourself to open air towards your face rather than face in the water, can likely help to calm a very panicked athlete.
If you look at the majority of flotation devices, they work best when you are on your back. There is obviously a reason for that. I truly believe that simply rolling over, if able, can help stop the aspiration of water, that only makes a bad situation much worse.
Does this device work? Yes, probably, but in an event where something else happens, I’m not certain that you could pull this out of your pocket and put it over your head.
Many condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed.
I’m a GREAT swimmer and trust myself completely in the water, but there are many situations (albeit extremely improbable ones) that are beyond my control. I’m not at risk for a panic attack or heart attack, but there are so many environmental factors (albeit improbable ones) that put your life at risk when you swim in open water. You can’t control the ocean or the lake or river, and you should not fool yourself into thinking you are the sole master of your destiny when you are swimming anywhere other than a well-guarded pool. Shit happens. Ever watch shark week? Just an example of one thing you can’t control.
If nothing else, dragging an inflatable of some sort will make you stronger.
I guess you missed the point about visibility…which is the primary reason I have used it when doing OWS solo.
but I guess if you are a big bud über-swimmer, boats automatically avoid you.
OWS alone is a big no no. Especially in a none designated swim area where there are boats.
I understand the visibility aspect which is why brightly colored swim caps should be used. Bright neon colors not dark blue or black like I’ve been given in races.
Unlike you, I would make my children actually use this.
Does it look a bit dopey? I think so. Is it safer? Probably is.
The bright orange floating thing just behind you is also more visible to boats, jetskis, and where I’m from, bancas.
You can never tell what will happen in open water – cramps, sudden panic, whatever. This just adds another degree of safety.
BUT, I am not about to start a debate with anyone. I fully respect that you won’t use this, or you won’t let your son wear this. That is a personal choice. I have also made my personal choice, and I do choose to use one of these, and make my children use it as well.
Below link is not for racing but used in training. I do not think using any type of flotation device during a race would work. It would totally change the sport. Maybe smaller wave sizes would eliminate some of the anxiety some feel and reduce the contact in the water?
Ever watch shark week? Just an example of one thing you can’t control.
You are aware that some sharks are attracted to bright colors, especially orange. I have experienced this first hand. The strobe on my underwater camera housing is orange and I’ve several species of sharks hit at it (White Tip, Black Tip, Brown, Tiger and Mako). Only happens in relatively shallow water while orange is still orange.
Also, I’m pretty sure that buoy won’t protect you from shark attack.
I’m well aware of what can happen in open water. I play and train in the ocean almost everyday and have done so for ~30 years. I’ve seen a lot. The ocean and its inhabitants scare the shit out of me. I’ve seen a couple of people drown. I’ve rescued people. I was on a boat where an urchin diver bled out from a severed femoral artery (Whitey).
Your sig says it all.
It’s an admission more of should be making to ourselves.
OWS alone is a big no no. Especially in a none designated swim area where there are boats.
That’s just plain stupid (alone or not). Dragging an orange buoy doesn’t fix stupid.
I swim alone in the ocean almost every time I swim in the ocean. I have various reasons for doing this (hard to find partners willing to swim in adverse conditions is one).
The only time I’ve ever been in danger while swimming (I’ve been close to drowning while surfing on several occasions) was while rescuing a distressed swimmer. She was in a state of panic and saw me as a flotation device.
Any old school Hawaiian lifeguard knows how I got her to stop pulling me down.
I never recommend that anyone swim alone in open water (even though all these triathlon swimming deaths happened with hundreds or thousands of others, including safety personnel right there).
