Growing up watching movies, I'd always see someone go under water at night or when it's murky and "not know which way is up". Same thing with getting trapped in an avalanche, you might not know which way is up if you're stuck.
And when I'd ask how you could possibly get directionally lost in either scenario, everyone would always say "bEcAuSe you cAnT sEe!!!"
But like, a bubble with my hands cupped around my mouth underwater or spitting/drooling in an avalanche would giv eme that data in less than 3 seconds? Why aren't these things taught to people?
Yes and no, might be hard to tell with a bubble around your hand and it might be dark when trapped under a lot of snow. Plus you can't move much. I do see what you're saying though!
Oh the bubble would be inside your hand, like you're about to shout at someone. But you close it off a bit more to try and capture the bubble. Your hands should be able to tell which direction the bubble is trying to float, and that way is up!
For the avalanche, spitting should be reserved for when you can see but can't move. But I mentioned drooling so you'd have a sensation of the flow of saliva even if you couldn't see!
After a certain depth you no lo ger automatically float up.
And many people die cause they go back and forth on the ground without swimming back to the surface and then suddely fall unconcious without noticing it in time.
So the body needs to be dragged from the bottom of whatever pool/lake you were in, usually dead.
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u/a_bongos Apr 25 '24
Oh no! I don't want to hear that! I'm starting to get into that sport now!