Inflated News Item

   What a surprise! How novel! How did he think of that!  Just Imagine!  What a great and lifesaving trick!
    All comments about the stranded swimmer in Australia who inflated his jeans and used them as a flotation device. But this is hardly an original idea.
    When my kids were taking Red Cross swim lessons in Mechanicville with dedicated instructors Eileen Pickett and Mike Martone, one of the designated activities as they advanced from one level to another was the use of jeans as an emergency flotation device. It was a mandatory part of their classes when the students reached the level of lifesaving measures. Each swimmer had to bring a pair of jeans to class, knot the legs, and blow them up.  The kids were reminded to specifically bring jeans, as the denim would retain the water. They were told other materials may be of help, but would not be so effective.
     I'm not sure if this is any longer part of the Red Cross training, but am sure that evidently none of the news-readers ever heard of it, or else they feigned surprise at such a creative "twist" on the part of the swimmer.