The Red Book

[Foswick]

This thread is an experiment in response to the discussion started here: Emergency Manual

Let's see if we can develop something, collaboratively. It will be tricky because this is not really a good tool for collaboration but, I think if folks are disciplined about staying on topic, it could work, even if a bit awkwardly. I do think that the confluence of perspectives and experience on SBO is a good place to try this.

So, the idea is to create something like a little tabbed flipbook - like 3x5 cards on a binder ring or something similar. It is for someone aboard your boat that needs some basic emergency information/instruction and no one left on board that can give it to them. This thread is not to discuss if this is valuable. (We can discuss that on the other thread.) This is for people who want to contribute to creating this.

Maybe some ground rules to keep things moving and keep folks happy?

1. We don't have to come to 100% agreement. The idea is that each person will be able to make their own, as they prefer. This is just to help each person refine the guide to serve as a good basis for each person to create their own. So, when we get "close enough", we'll call a decision done and move on.
2. Let's try to focus on one section at a time. I don't think we can avoid a parallel discussion of which sections should/shouldn't be included, but I think it will go off the rails if we try to develop everything all at once.
3. Everybody here is smart and, importantly, this effort benefits from people with more and less experience. The more perspectives the better (and I don't often say that). Remember, each person can accept/reject whatever they want for themselves.
4. Just to keep things moving forward, I will make decisions about what is or isn't finalized - not because it is my way or the highway or because I am the smartest guy in the room. It's just to try to keep people working on the same base document.
5. Trying to do this might be a disastrous failure, but let's try to make it work.

Sound good?

 

[Foswick]

Just to start somewhere, here is my first draft list of possible sections. Let's try to refine this list. Maybe we come up with the 10 essentials (or however many), and identify some others are optional or equipment-dependent?

Sections

• Table of Contents: A list of the 10 (or however many) things that are covered. So, they can see, at a glance, if the information they need is there. (Clearly readable tabs might accomplish this just as well or better?)
• Call for Help: VHF instructions, super simplified
• Stop the Boat: Need to describe how to drop sails and stop the boat and shut the engine off. Are these separate sections? Also, might need to make it clear when you might not want to shut the engine off (like for MOB). Not sure how to explain this concisely. Maybe there is just a separate person-over-board section.
• Man Over Board: I waffle back and forth on the usefulness of much of this. By the time the person reads it, it could be useless. But, I still think we need to try to give good information. Can't replace the basic passenger brief of, "If someone goes overboard, immediately do this..." The guide can maybe pick up after that immmediate action (like getting control of the boat, etc.)
• Starting the Motor: So simple, but still a little challenging to describe concisely. For example, don't motor with the sails up ... unless winds are really light ... but how light? How to make this super-simplified?
• Taking on Water: Mostly just ensure they have called for help and can operate the manual bilge pump. Stay with the boat.
• Fire: I kind of think that this actually has limited use. You just need to know where the fire extinguishers are, and you probably won't look this up in the guide if you need them. This might be useful if passengers are asked to read the red book before leaving the dock (which should take 1-2 minutes, I would think)?
• First Aid: I think this is another case of just knowing where to find it. If there are more detailed directions needed, those can be kept with the med kit.
• Signaling: I think this should be more about where to find signaling gear and why you want it. Detailed instructions, if needed, can be kept with the signaling gear itself.
• Where Do I Find...: This might be a diagram that shows where the important stuff is (radio, first aid, fire extinguishers, manual bilge pump, go bag, etc.)
• Phone Numbers: I like a disclaimer on this section that says, effectively, "The fastest way to get help is with the VHF radio." But, there are several phone numbers that could still be useful (tow services, etc.)

Thoughts? Additions, omissions, modifications?

 

[jssailem]

A good start.

 

[Stu Jackson]

A waste of time.

Why? See: Emergency Manual

 

[Foswick]

A waste of time.

Then don't participate. Simple.

 

[Tally Ho]

I like the idea a lot. When I fall over board or have a chest grabber, my Mrs. will unfortunately have no idea what to do. Her plan is to call 911 and wait for help. With any luck, Tally Ho will round up and she won’t run aground or out to the middle of Lake Michigan before help arrives.

But if anyone else is on board, hopefully they may use the info to make their rescue (or better yet self-rescue) feasible. It will certainly depend on that particular crews experience.

My first comment is on calling for help…

While I agree that issuing a mayday on channel [x] or hitting the red button on the VHF is a good way to start, using a cell phone (if in range) and calling 911 or the local marine unit (we have a sheriff‘s marine unit based at our marina) may facilitate better / faster communication with local authorities.

So maybe the topic of “Emergency Communications“ should include both VHF & cellular (and any others that people bring up).

Greg

 

[Foswick]

I agree with the "both" suggestion. They both have their place. Here, I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer. Where we sail, if you push the red button, USCG knows who you are and where you are. There are only a few small blind spots for precisely locating the vessel, in this area. (This is what I sort of recall reading, but writing this, I realize that I'm not sure where I got that information. So, I should verify.)

Here, a VHF distress call is the absolute fastest way to get response to a true emergency, on the water. Not true everywhere, and probably nearly pointless in some locations.

This is my first draft of what I might include for radio instructions:

Call for Help
IMPORTANT: The radio will get you help faster than your mobile phone.

• Find the radio: Just left of the sink
• Turn it on: Use the volume knob and turn all the way up
• Grab the mic
• Lift the RED COVER on the radio
• Press and HOLD Red Button a few seconds until it BEEPS – The Coast Guard now knows the boat and location.
• Wait until no one else is talking for a few seconds.
• Press and HOLD the big button on the side of the MIC to speak – RELEASE WHEN DONE TALKING
• Say:
  "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY – This is the sailboat Sally J
  [Describe the emergency in 1-2 sentences]
  OVER"
• RELEASE THE BUTTON (No one can talk until you release the button.)
• Wait one minute for a response before trying again.

Changing Channels: If the Coast Guard tells you to switch to a different channel, use the “Channel” knob on the radio.
---

And, I like the idea of another card with a list of phone numbers. (This is just nice to have anyway.) Fortunately, you don't need to tell people about 911. If they have a phone and a signal, they already know about this option. The only thing tricky about the phone is that the person calling might have a hard time explaining where they are. Another thing to consider. Maybe there isn't much to do about that in a simple guide like this. Or, maybe this is easy to get on some boats. (On ours, it takes a little bit of fiddling with the chart plotter to get that info, and it might not even be turned on.)

Note that, in my radio call, I oversimplified. I don't include the typical "there are [#] people on board" bit or things like that. I wanted to keep it REALLY simple. The Coast Guard will ask any follow ups they need and help talk the person through it. They just need to make contact. Again, if you are in an area without Coast Guard presence, that changes things a bit.

 

[Foswick]

... also, I think I like the idea of a broader "red card" system, rather than a monolithic flipbook. Emergency instructions can be on a distinctive red card, similar to those used in the flipbook. So, the flipbook can be simplified. For example, no need to include radio instructions. Just make sure they can find the radio. The radio's red card is by the radio.

 

[shemandr]

I think I'm with Stuart on this one. If you are relying on inexperienced people to save you - you're f'ed. My guest got a rudimentary safety talk, and head instruction, but I couldn't teach piloting in a short time.
Over years I have had less non-sailers as guests as it wasn't fun to watch over them.

 

[Foswick]

Please honor my request to keep the "is this a good idea" discussion out of this thread.

 

[Stu Jackson]

This thread is an experiment in response to the discussion started here: Emergency Manual
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sound good?

Please honor my request to keep the "is this a good idea" discussion out of this thread.

Which is it? Experiment with your request to opine if it sounds good? Or not? I just think it's a not useful idea, and every one of your contributions continues to support that.