An immersion suit or survival suit can come in handy in the event of an emergency. If you have ever spent any amount of time on a rough sea, then you know just how valuable an immersion suit can be. Brightly colored suits can help rescue teams more easily locate you in the open waters. Buoyant immersion suits can help keep you afloat so you can spend less energy staying on top of the water while also helping to protect you from hypothermia. It’s just as important to know experienced maritime accident attorneys as it is how to use and store your survival suit properly.

1. Practice Runs

It’s a good idea to practice putting on your suit so that you will know what to do. It’s a good idea to practice putting it on lying down since rough seas and listing can make it more difficult to do this while standing up. Your feet go in first, followed by your weaker arm and the hood. Finally put in your stronger arm and the zipper. No doubt, you will be stressed when the time comes to don your immersion suit.

2. Read the Instructions

Be sure to read the instructions on how to use and properly store your survival suit. Different manufacturers have different instructions, so even if you’re familiar with immersion suits, keep manufacturer differences in mind. Be mindful not to compress your suit, as it may weaken or decrease its effectiveness. Using the correct storage bag is also recommended.

3. Regular Inspections

Whether you routinely wear your immersion suit on deck or not, you should perform regular suit inspections. You should do regular common sense checks like inspecting the zipper, checking for holes, etc. Every year or two it is recommended that immersion suits be inspected by a certified repair and inspection facility. If your suit is older than 5 years, have it professionally inspected more often.

4. Keep It Clean

A clean suit is a well cared for suit. Use a gentle cleanser with no harsh chemicals to handwash an immersion suit. Dry cleaning or conventional laundering can damage the survival suit. Allow your suit to dry in a well-ventilated area. Remember, sunlight and extreme temperatures can damage your suit.

5. Water Safety

Avoid jumping into the water as it can damage the immersion suit. Lower yourself gently into the water instead. It is also to your advantage to wait before inflating your suit. If you are in cold water, do as little swimming as possible to conserve your energy, and if you must swim, do so on your back to decrease the likelihood of water getting on your face and speeding up hypothermia. Link to other survivors to increase your visibility to rescue teams.

Immersion suits are a great safety advancement for the maritime industry that has saved many lives. Knowing how to use and store a survival suit can mean the difference between life or death. An improperly worn suit will not be as effective or rendered useless when you need it.