Lifejackets and cold water. Try this:

that's ok - water temp around here is ~15°C at the moment .. puts it in the bottom 3rd to start with ... ;)
 
It's that first minute in the water that will kill many of us, yet until recently I never saw any specific advice what to do (and what not to do).

I cannot recommend strongly enough the value of going on a sea survival course.
 
Definitely second to doing a Sea Safety Course (mandatory for a commercial endorsement). Quite sobering.

Also, at one First Aid renewal course, the instructor showed an RN video of two Olympic swimmers (Duncan Goodhew and Sharon Davis) swimming for 10 minutes in cold water wearing typical rating clothes. By 8 minutes their co-oridination of strokes was completely gone - they were starting to struggle - so who only knows what would happen to us mere mortals.

The clear moral is don't fall in and if you have to then wear a lifejacket.
 
fireball said:
Good advice - if you've left it onboard you have to get back onboard first - by which time you don't need it! :cool: :eek: :D :p
Click to expand...

Slight drift but pertinent.

Many years ago I deliberately killed the engine on a 34' yacht doing 6 knots in the Med - sea temperature 23C.

And then jumped off the back of the boat - it took me 5 mins and 12 secs to catch up with the boat - that's in warm water, I was only wearing swimming shorts and I knew it was going to happen.

Think about it - around the UK - not a chance!
 
marklucas said:
Definitely second to doing a Sea Safety Course (mandatory for a commercial endorsement). Quite sobering.

Also, at one First Aid renewal course, the instructor showed an RN video of two Olympic swimmers (Duncan Goodhew and Sharon Davis) swimming for 10 minutes in cold water wearing typical rating clothes. By 8 minutes their co-oridination of strokes was completely gone - they were starting to struggle - so who only knows what would happen to us mere mortals.

The clear moral is don't fall in and if you have to then wear a lifejacket.
Click to expand...

Absolutely....

Having done assorted offshore survival courses over the years, and sailed in the North Sea as well. Stay OUT of cold water...
If you are unlucky enough to go in, more clothes will reduce heat loss, as will an inflated jacket. Minimise swimming- you lose more heat that way.. tuck your hands/arms under your LJ - float on your back having used your spray hood, keep your legs together and reduce motion..
If you have somebody on the helm who knows how to find / recover you, then you're maybe OK...
You probably won't snuff it in 5 or 10 minutes, but you won't be in any fit state to clamber up a transom either...
 
Entering cold water

Hi Capnsnsible, interesting site, thanks for posting.
A few thoughts from previous lives:-
1. The section of types of lifejackets is very thin - much more detailed information would be necessary to make a valid judgement on which type of lifejacket one needs for a particular boating activity. The Crewsaver web site (for example) sets out the new European Standards in detail showing the rationale for the recent increases in certified buoyancy levels - the new "norms" being standard ILJ 190 N (up from 150 N) and (offshore/ heavy clothing) 290 N (up from the previous level 275N). Canada is of course different but the North American ideas generally on PFDs fall some way short of ours.

Two key points for entering cold water could be more strongly emphasised.

2. If you know are going to have to enter very cold water, (eg to rescue someone or as the ship sinks!!), never suffer your initial cold water immersion shock in the water. Suffer the shock while still onboard by pouring a cup of cold water down the back of your neck - that way (if it is cold enough) you will gasp and have the hyperventilation in safety and you won't swallow sea water. When you do go in the shock is very much reduced. Try it in February at night in air temperatures about minius 6 if you don't believe me! Do this even when wearing a wet suit - it is remarkable how it increases your ability to function immediately on entering the water - the time spent in pre- shocking is well spent because instead of gasping for a minute floundering about trying to keep above water you can go straight to work at whatever your task is.

3. Never jump or dive in.
You should step down, out and across the surface of the water beating down with your arms at point of immersion to minimise intial depth of immersion and keep head and shoulders above the surface. This is particularly important at night when you are stepping into black water of unknown depth and full of potential hazards such as sharp rock, rigging, lines etc which could injure or entangle. And this technique allows you to maintain vision which is essential to allow you to go do whatever is to be done. Well worth practising - not graceful but after a few goes anyone can step into the water from quite high up without submerging the face - even when carrying items of kit.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5.
 
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