Float First: An Index of Floating: Factors Affecting Floating in Different Populations

"Float First": Categorising Factors Effecting Floating in Different Populations During Water Immersion.

The study involves measurements of body composition using a DEXA scanner, lung function, buoyancy and floating technique. An understanding of the effects of physiological and anthropometric measures on an individual's ability to float may lead to the creation of a 'Floatability Score' to aid current public information. With this floatability score a set of actions that people of certain body types should adopt in water will be created, to tailor the current public safety messaging in an attempt to ensure more people are aware of how they can float in water

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Anthropometry; Lung Function; Floating Technique
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: this is an observational study there are no interventions

Detailed Description

Between 2000 and 2013 an average of 425 people in the UK drowned per annum, and a reported 100,000 people were involved in water-related emergencies involving search and rescue services. Approximately half had not intended to go into the water. Research identifies that in the first 1-3 minutes of immersion, during the "cold shock response" (CSR), there may be an increased probability of drowning fatalities. As a result of this, a theme of 'Float First' was created whereby individuals are advised to float for 1-3 minutes following immersion (by undertaking the minimum amount of activity possible to maximise the amount of air trapped in clothing layers and hence creating additional buoyancy) until the effects of the CSR have declined. However, a number of people have come forward indicating that despite the advice given, they are unable to float. This study is designed to establish the minimum activity level a person needs to stay afloat and combine this with anthropomorphic and physiological measures to develop advice for people of different shapes, sizes and body compositions.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 178

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Hampshire
    • Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom, PO1 2ER
      • Heather Massey

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Accepting all adults able to give their own consent to participate, the investigators aim to recruit a mixture of participants of different body size, shape, sex and race

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All participants who feel confident in water which they can stand up in, aged 18 years and older (18-29 years for Phase 1).
• The participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
• Be able to climb up and down a set of steps to access the swimming flume

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have allergies to water or chlorinated water.
• The participant is pregnant or suspects they may be pregnant.
• Not able to climb up and down a set of steps to access the swimming flume

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Main study group; Assessments performed: Height; Mass; Body fat density; Bone density; Lean muscle density; Lung volume measurements; Floating technique; Buoyancy	Other: this is an observational study there are no interventions; development of an index to provide appropriate information on a person's ability to float, based on Physiological and anthropometric characteristics
Validation group; Assessments performed: Height; Mass; Body fat density; Bone density; Lean muscle density; Lung volume measurements; Floating technique; Buoyancy	Other: this is an observational study there are no interventions; development of an index to provide appropriate information on a person's ability to float, based on Physiological and anthropometric characteristics

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Floating index	Describes the actions required to stay afloat	2 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Standing Height	Height of participant	with the two week study window
Mass	Mass of participant	with the two week study window - performed at the same time of day as the floating and DEXA scan measurements
Body composition	a break down of the main components of the body (fat, lean tissue)	with the two week study window - performed at the same time of day as the floating and DEXA scan measurements
Lung function	the volumes of the lungs namely, FVC, Tidal breathing, ERV and IRV	with the two week study window - performed at the same time of day as the floating and DEXA scan measurements
Buoyancy	the buoyancy of the person floating in the water	with the two week study window - performed at the same time of day as the floating and DEXA scan measurements
Floating technique	The technique required to float	2 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Portsmouth
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Heather Massey, PhD, University of Portsmouth

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): July 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): June 11, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 13, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2019
• Last Verified: June 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Floating; Sculling; water safety
• Other Study ID Numbers: TBA

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: The participant's data will be anonymized and presented to interested parties as part of the groups' data. There are no plans to share the information which can be identifiable to a particular participant.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No