在還沒有救生衣的時代，漁民捕魚或洪水過後，為了撿持漂流木常遇到激流或怒濤，而危及生命安全。麻竹因直徑大，竹肉薄，中空浮力強，因此被用來做為救生筒之用。又稱為「水鬼仔」的麻竹救生筒，選材時必須取二節至三節的長度(約150~160公分)，而且竹筒兩端須留有竹節，才能隔離河水進入筒內，而影響了它的浮力，製作前，需讓竹筒的水份消失，使重量減至最低，並經過數星期的陰乾後，再刮去竹筒外皮，覆用棉質紗布包裹並塗上瀝青，且需重覆數層，可防龜裂或腐朽。竹筒外圍細小之桂竹筒，用厚藤皮紮牢固定後，可以做為握把使用。

Prior to the use of life vests, lives were endangered while fishermen fish, or when people collect driftwoods after a flood. Dendrocalamus latiflorus munro is thin and has a large diameter and strong buoyancy because of its hollow center. Therefore it has been used as a life-saving tube. Also known as “water ghosts”, the dendrocalamus latiflorus munro life-saving tubes consist of bamboos with 2 to 3 segments (about 150~160cm); both ends of the bamboo tube must retain the partition to keep the water from entering and influencing its buoyancy. Prior to production, the moisture must be removed from the bamboo to reduce its weight. After many weeks of drying, the outer skin is scraped, also covered with cotton gauze and painted with bitumen. It takes many layers to prevent cracks or rotting. Thin, small makino bamboo tubes are secured with thick wicker peel tethers and used as handles.