So will air in your lungs. Rough water at night, had no idea up or down, so just relaxed, letting ot a little air at a time until I felt the water receed from around my head/shoulders. That happened a few times before I was clear of that area.
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That is true but depends on If you have positive bouncy in both fresh and salt water, lungs full of air, and if you are comfortable being underwater. I used to free dive if you let a bit of air out of the lungs it reduces the urge to take a breath. A PFD insures you don’t sink to start with.
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In aerated water you need all of the flotation you can get. “Air in your lungs” gets you no where.
There are plenty of vertical currents in rapids, vortexes, you get thrashed like being in a washing machine. The term maytag comes to mind.
A lot of people may never have swum any rapids.
Wear your PFD.
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I never thought of that
OP here. Yeah, the PFD is never in question, even though I’m not a White Waterer (? ;-))
First time I had the vertigo after capsize I was fighting the PFD. I felt like up was down and down was up. Second time I was a bit more mentally prepared and let flotation do its thing - still wasn’t pleasant, but much better. In both cases I’d already had two episodes on land.
I think if someone was foolish/unfortunate enough to have a surprise (first) episode on water AND not be wearing a PFD - yeah, Sudden Drowning, especially in any kind of waves or WW.
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