A safety device including a support that may be stowed within an enclosure
and easily extended for use. One embodiment comprises an adjustable
length strap coupled to a support strap fixed in the form of a loop that
may act as a handle or a step, and a keeper comprising a pouch closable
by a flap to form an enclosure. Multiple support loops may be attached to
one another as desired. The upper end of the adjustable length strap is
coupled to the interior of the keeper, and the keeper may be attached to
a vessel or other object via a securing loop on its rear side. The straps
are gathered inside the keeper, with a portion of the lowermost support
loop hanging outside the keeper and fixed in position by the closed flap,
such that the exposed support loop when pulled will cause the flap to
open and the strap to extend.