dead man’s float

dead man’s float

Public health
A manoeuvre used to help a person survive in a body of water for a long period of time. The person is to take a deep breath of air, completely filling the lungs, which serves to buoy the body; the person leaves his or her body face-down in the water in a dead man position until he or she must take the next breath.
Zoology
Appearance of tardigrade when in a temporary anoxybiotic state; it is swollen, motionless and all four legs are extended.