Emergency Manual
- Thread starter Foswick
- Start date
This is also one the reasons why you are required to having a standing watch, even when not underway, when carrying passengers for hire.
Could not agree more. I have completed several ASA certification courses over the years In which figure 8 & “quick stop” MOB procedures were taught, always in benign weather & sea conditions. Not realistic in conditions that would cause MOB.
I highly recommend watching a Maryland School of Sailing & Seamanship video on You Tube entitled “Crew overboard recovery & techniques”. Explains rationale for stop, drop sails, & motoring to MOB. Well worth your time to watch & learn; may change your thoughts on MOB recovery.
For me, this comes down to this:
And one other observation about safety briefings:
I have worked quite a bit in emergency settings - as an emergency responder, in the emergency room, in the military, and in search and rescue. One of the most common and most dangerous phemonena is decision paralysis. Actually, giving passengers too much information, up front, can be paradoxically dangerous. I will give you an example of the phenomenon in a real world example:
Take CPR, for example. For years, it was taught as some combination of alternating breaths and chest compressions. Nowadays, we just teach chest compressions, to the general public. Why? Well, among other reasons, we had learned that often CPR was being delayed or not performed at all, even by people who had received CPR training, because they could not remember the sequence and were afraid of doing it wrong. There are/were other reasons too, such as fear of communicable diseases with rescue breaths, but the point is, the less training a person has, the simpler you need to keep it.
I was once witness to a safety briefing where the briefer was pointing out locations and uses of the various fire extinguishers. He was keen to emphasize the importance of using the right letter on the right kind of fire - he really strongly emphasized this point, probably thinking that being thorough was a good thing. But, effectively, he made people nervous about using ANY fire extinguisher, for fear of using the wrong one.
You can't do that with untrained people who are out of their element. They need a really simple instruction, even if it not optimum. It helps keep them calm and it helps ensure that they take some advantageous action, rather than none at all.
For me, that's all this guide is about - something that can tell a person how to make a bad situation slightly better, rather than just saying, "Good luck." If nothing else, it gives passengers a sense that the crew is concerned about their safety. And, that's not nothing.
- Regardless of preparation or briefing, there is a non-zero chance that someone with little/no experience will find themselves in command of my boat and needing to make decisions.
- I would rather them have some information, than none at all.
- It is very easy for me to provide some information. So better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
- There is a decent chance that some of that information might be useful in other situations.
And one other observation about safety briefings:
I have worked quite a bit in emergency settings - as an emergency responder, in the emergency room, in the military, and in search and rescue. One of the most common and most dangerous phemonena is decision paralysis. Actually, giving passengers too much information, up front, can be paradoxically dangerous. I will give you an example of the phenomenon in a real world example:
Take CPR, for example. For years, it was taught as some combination of alternating breaths and chest compressions. Nowadays, we just teach chest compressions, to the general public. Why? Well, among other reasons, we had learned that often CPR was being delayed or not performed at all, even by people who had received CPR training, because they could not remember the sequence and were afraid of doing it wrong. There are/were other reasons too, such as fear of communicable diseases with rescue breaths, but the point is, the less training a person has, the simpler you need to keep it.
I was once witness to a safety briefing where the briefer was pointing out locations and uses of the various fire extinguishers. He was keen to emphasize the importance of using the right letter on the right kind of fire - he really strongly emphasized this point, probably thinking that being thorough was a good thing. But, effectively, he made people nervous about using ANY fire extinguisher, for fear of using the wrong one.
You can't do that with untrained people who are out of their element. They need a really simple instruction, even if it not optimum. It helps keep them calm and it helps ensure that they take some advantageous action, rather than none at all.
For me, that's all this guide is about - something that can tell a person how to make a bad situation slightly better, rather than just saying, "Good luck." If nothing else, it gives passengers a sense that the crew is concerned about their safety. And, that's not nothing.
This makes me think about another point. Not every emergency will require split-second decision making and trained skill.
If the one guy who knows how to get a sailboat, moving in the right way, and in the right direction, as well as how to call for help, happens to simply "keel" over (see what I did there?
) and leave the passenger(s) floating a hundred miles off shore in a sailboat, it would be nice to have a well written emergency operator's manual about navigation, radio use, engine operation, the self-steering system, even sail handling, (if only just to drop and properly secure the sails), storm preparation, and helming into large waves. If VHF range makes radio contact unlikely, most people who can read should be able to follow instruction for self-rescue aboard a sound, and provisioned sailboat.-Chill Will
Most don't. The ones that unfold over a few seconds or a few minutes do happen and they are the exciting ones people tend to think about, but those are honestly relatively rare.
A difficulty I'm having with this rationale is that at 100 NM off shore, I'll have been sailing with my current crew for pretty much a day. At a minimum, each will have already learned how to run my boat under motor. By the first 24 hours, all will have had at a minimum how to run my sails, put them up and down, and how to adjust them for the wind.This makes me think about another point. Not every emergency will require split-second decision making and trained skill.
If the one guy who knows how to get a sailboat, moving in the right way, and in the right direction, as well as how to call for help, happens to simply "keel" over (see what I did there?
-Will
Another difficulty is that if indeed I'm heading that far off shore - I am not taking 100% neophytes. I will have with me at a minimum 1 other able sailor. Otherwise, I'm going alone. I'm not heading to sea with a full crew of neophytes. I consider that an unwise and dangerous proposition.
If I have a crew of neophytes, I will first spend time training them in a safer environment. I'm certainly not heading off shore with a crew of neophytes - Ever - Not happening on my boat. In fact if I have a neophyte on my boat, I will look for competent crew to join me during training of the neophyte as I can't run a boat and train crew at a safety level I'm comfortable with.
If I am sailing with neophytes solely as passengers - one of the things I tell them during the safety meeting is if things happen, and I need to do things quickly, I will issue the command for everyone to not move. I may move quickly and it is safer for everyone that I'm allowed to move freely without anyone moving as I can get around them without problem, but we don't need any collisions...
Hence from my perspective, I'm not seeing how flashcards aid greater safety. At least not on my boat.
dj
On a slightly different tack...( pun intended), I've created a video and written description of where boat things are stored at home along with the operational changes that were made onboard.. As I age, my fear is not about my inevitable passing but passing without being able to show a new owner the various changes made.
I think a flash card idea on emergency steps to take, should the Captain be incapacitated, is a great idea. I was given a book way back when, called "The sailors handbook" by Halsey C Herreshhoff. There is a complete section on Safety. I'm not saying copy and paste but use it as a guide line to cover each topic to create the simplified and tailored flash cards to your boat. I believe most newbies or first time sailors will panic, so long winded "How Too's" is not going to work. But a flash card with Photo of the kill toggle and the on off key showing the location on your particular boat will help the panic stricken crew member find it.
On the cabin companion way bulkhead, I have a one page laminated check list for myself, for departure. Now I think from this topic thread, I might make one for "In case of Emergency"
On the cabin companion way bulkhead, I have a one page laminated check list for myself, for departure. Now I think from this topic thread, I might make one for "In case of Emergency"
With over 6 decades of seafaring, professionally and for pleasure, I never found a need for such a thing.
My Rules:
1) Do not fall overboard. If you do, take note of the nearest land as you go over, and begin to swim toward it. Chances are, we won't find you.
2) Do not, under any circumstances, injure yourself. If you do you will be thrown, unceremoniously, off the boat in the next port!
Of course, those rules apply to crew and guests.The worst injury sustained, when I was captain, has been a few broken toes or fingers and perhaps a cracked rib or two, but none of these things at the same time or to the same person.
I do not believe that "sh*t happens". It only happens when one loses their situational awareness. And that is 100% preventable.
My Rules:
1) Do not fall overboard. If you do, take note of the nearest land as you go over, and begin to swim toward it. Chances are, we won't find you.
2) Do not, under any circumstances, injure yourself. If you do you will be thrown, unceremoniously, off the boat in the next port!
Of course, those rules apply to crew and guests.The worst injury sustained, when I was captain, has been a few broken toes or fingers and perhaps a cracked rib or two, but none of these things at the same time or to the same person.
I do not believe that "sh*t happens". It only happens when one loses their situational awareness. And that is 100% preventable.
No, sheet happens. Anchor rodes part, rogue waves sweep decks, powerboaters don't look, squalls come up and swing wind directions suddenly, submerged objects lurk invisibly just below the surface, hidden corrosion removes bolts, batteries burst into flame, waves knock hot pans off stoves, weather reports are sometimes wrong, mice get aboard and destroy equipment, etc.
I think it would be more accurate to say something like, "Sheet" happens when one loses situational awareness. But, it also happens at any other time too.
But, I like your rules.
-Chill Will
I think that the point of the manual is “what if YOU are the one to go overboard or are incapacitated”. None of us can accurately predict when we are going to the big marina in the sky!
Greg
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,665
This is true. There is no reason to give in or speed up the process.
The concept of the cards (manual) is to offer ideas to those left. They still need to figure it out.
I recognize and take to heart @capta #1 rule.
One way to help yourself is to use good ideas to help your seamanship. When sailing, I always use jacklines and a tether. Especially when solo sailing. I run my jacklines down the center of the boat. That way, my tether reaches only to the edge of that 500ft cliff above the water.
I fully understood that concept. All of my replies have been addressing that specific case.
I'm with @capta - of course he has much more experience than I do, but in my more than 5 decades of sailing, I've never seen reason to want such flash cards. But I'm open to the discussion.
dj
7 minutes ago
I would pick the most likely experienced teachable of the five new sailboat passengers and name them as the one in charge if I go overboard. To those not looking at their cell phone I would point out the life ring and fire extinguisher how to use it and demand that they put on their life preserver anyway.( if only to make sure that it fits and right side up) Although I have never fallen off the boat when leaving the Marina I will have given all the passengers the phone number for them to call for help because push to talk and let go to listen isn't intuitive these days. (especially on a boat that sleeps 6)As far as the emergency instruction thingy I can't remember where I put it but it's in there somewhere waiting for the new owner.
I would pick the most likely experienced teachable of the five new sailboat passengers and name them as the one in charge if I go overboard. To those not looking at their cell phone I would point out the life ring and fire extinguisher how to use it and demand that they put on their life preserver anyway.( if only to make sure that it fits and right side up) Although I have never fallen off the boat when leaving the Marina I will have given all the passengers the phone number for them to call for help because push to talk and let go to listen isn't intuitive these days. (especially on a boat that sleeps 6
)As far as the emergency instruction thingy I can't remember where I put it but it's in there somewhere waiting for the new owner.
If there's a "big marina in the sky", I would hope there's a lovely anchorage fairly nearby, with good fishing in between.I like that phrase.