But the life jackets help a fuckton when you encounter submerged of floating debris by helping you not g3t trapped and pinned by debris.
Most my experience is from kayaking creeks and rivers after large rain storms. Its as close as you can get to real flood conditions, in my opinion. The biggest danger is under tows amd getting pinned by the current against or under a downed tree. The life jacket is going to keep you above most under water obstacles that you would find your self pinned against without a jacket.
The biggest thing to remember if you are worried about being caught in a flood or have little experience swimming in waters with strong currents is: YOU ARE NOT STRONGER THAN THE CURRENT. You always want to let the current take you and focus all your energy on angling towards one bank or the other. Dont try and swim against the current battling to get to shore. You will get too tired to make it and will be helpless once your muscles are shot. Keep on ypur back and your head above water as much as you can and ride it out till the current calms down or the bank is close enough for you to touch ground.
Its scary as fuck being trapped under water but the only way out is to stay calm and not panic. Life jackets help in every scenario.
But the life jackets help a fuckton when you encounter submerged of floating debris by helping you not g3t trapped and pinned by debris.
Most my experience is from kayaking creeks and rivers after large rain storms. Its as close as you can get to real flood conditions, in my opinion. The biggest danger is under tows amd getting pinned by the current against or under a downed tree. The life jacket is going to keep you above most under water obstacles that you would find your self pinned against without a jacket.
The biggest thing to remember if you are worried about being caught in a flood or have little experience swimming in waters with strong currents is: YOU ARE NOT STRONGER THAN THE CURRENT. You always want to let the current take you and focus all your energy on angling towards one bank or the other. Dont try and swim against the current battling to get to shore. You will get too tired to make it and will be helpless once your muscles are shot. Keep on ypur back and your head above water as much as you can and ride it out till the current calms down or the bank is close enough for you to touch ground.
Its scary as fuck being trapped under water but the only way out is to stay calm and not panic. Life jackets help in every scenario.