You can leave your socks on: It may save your life.

When a New York pilot, Michael Trapp , crashed into Lake Huron recently he survived without a life jacket by swimming and treading water for about 17 hours. To stay afloat he shed his pants and shoes. He tried unsuccessfully to reflect the sun light off his credit card to attract attention but eventually got the attention of passing boaties by waving his socks in the air.