"Dead man's float" (and not in OED)

[David Barnhart]

I first heard _dead-man's float_ in the late 1940's (probably 1948 or so.
My recollection is that it was face-down in the water so it didn't matter if
you breathed or not.  You were supposedly dead.  It's the position
instructors liked to start out young inexperienced swimmers (such as
myself).

Regards and Happy June,

David

barnhart at highlands.com

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