SURVIVALEQUIPMENT
nothing has been left to chance with them.
Ivar Grøneng, category manager
– Survival &Floating for Helly Hansen
explained to us that the outer layer
of the suit is 100% waterproof and is
made of a flame-retardant fabric while
the inner lining provides insulation
and buoyancy. Because, by contrast to
the water temperatures it can be very
warm in the helicopter on a sunny day
(upwards of 30°C), an intelligent internal
fabric stabilises the inside temperature
by absorbing heat, while in the water it
reflects heat back to the body. Bottom
line is, you won’t get sweaty wearing
this number even when it’s hot and it
will keep you warm if you wind up in the
perishing cold.
And then there’s the double-welded
seams and reflective tape, emergency
light, insulated three-finger gloves with
waterproof zippers and inside cuffs with
pulse warmers, an integrated emergency
locator beacon and much more.Once out
in the open water, the inflatable collar
will help keep your head out of the water
– even when you’re exhausted – and
the buddy line will allow you to attach
yourself to other survivors, helping you to
keep up morale and making you easier to
find and rescue.
But it’s the finer design details
that really blow your mind.Like the
re-breather with which it is equipped.
Often when helicopters crash into
the sea,they flip over which means
that passengers need to escape
underwater. But according to Grøneng,
it’s practically impossible to hold your
breath in icy water as the body’s reflex
response is to gasp. So a rebreather is
vital tool in escape.
“But there are more sinister
threats than the cold and wet when
you’re adrift at sea – and we’re
not talking about the obvious but
maybe over-hyped menaces like
shark attacks. We’re talking about
seasickness and birds.”
And then there is the tough plastic
spray shield which you can pull down
over your face.It made us feel a little
like astronauts but when the waves can
be mountainous and the spray lashing, it
can be a lifesaver – preventing drowning
as well as intense cold and pain on the
face.But there are more sinister threats
than the cold and wet when you’re adrift
OUTSIDER|June-July|41
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