LifeJackets - is everyone a pansy these days?

[fireball]

These threads about when you wear your lifejackets and clip on ... more and more ppl are either clipped on 100% of the time or always wear their lifejackets ...

Me? I'll put it on if I consider the conditions warrant it. I'll clip on if I think there is a chance of me loosing my grip .. other than that it is always onboard at hand ...

Now ... I know LJs are more comfortable and are a valuable piece of life saving equipment ... but I do have to question why more and more ppl feel compelled to wear them more often....

As a lad I was climbing up and down trees all the time, and when I wasn't I was dinghy sailing (always wore a buoyancy aid because of the capsise risk) - in all those years I can remember falling out of the tree once (my own silly fault) and fell out the back of the dinghy twice (once the toestraps broke- it was a teaching boat and the school modified their setup so it wouldn't happen again, the othertime I missed the toestraps). In all the situations where I've "had an accident" I was suitably dressed and either connected (falling out of the tree) or had a buoyancy aid on (the dinghies) as I felt the risks required those safety devices.

However, sailing through the solent (which is the majority of our sailing) we're rarely out in anything above a F5, there isn't too much chop and just about everything is done from the cockpit ... added to that that I am still agile and always have one hand to hold onto the boat I don't think I'm likely to fall overboard ...

So, the question is - has everyones attitudes to risk changed? Do you feel more vulnerable (or venerable?!)

 

[stevebrassett]

I don't like wearing them as they push my glasses off, and then I can't see.

 

[simonfraser]

the gov would like us to be ppl / pansy for sure.

wear it in/out the dinghy and when conditions demand it.

 

[oxman]

I think everyone is able to assess the risk at any given time and can make a judgment as to when they should wear a lifejacket, however in my case I have young children onboard so wear an LJ whenever we are not at anchor or moored. I do this as an example and in case I have to leap overboard to save a child who has taken a leap!

Life is full of risks and I believe that everyone is therefore liable for their own safety - make your assessment and do what you feel is best.

 

[wongaero]

sshhhh, you'll give insurance companies ideas then we'll all end up wearing lifejackets and hard hats with a safety boat in front...

 

[StugeronSteve]

Got in to the habbit when the children were young and it's stuck. I don't find a lifejacket uncomfortable, so I wear one. Swmbo insists that I do when she's aboard, as she's not confident of her ability to effect a swift rescue. I know she could get the boat back to me quick enough, but then there's always the problem of hauling out.

When it comes to crew it's there own choice unless, due to conditions, I insist.

 

[fireball]

Whilst we're on the subject of potentially unnecessary "safety" devices... Why do tow trucks and breakdown vans insist on keeping their Orange flashing lights on when they're towing? It doesn't make a jot of difference to safety - they are no different to a car towing a trailer ... infact it can make things a lot worse as if you're following one in the dark (or dusk) you have to put up with blinding lights that ruin your night vision so you can't see what is in your path ...

Mind u .. Having watched the "Health and Safety Officer" come into my office - see an open bit of computer kit and stick his fingers inside I can see why we need such numpty signs about ... FFS the device was turned on!! It's an IT Office .. keep your FFingers out!! Dufus!

 

[Tidewaiter2]

[ QUOTE ]
Got in to the habbit when the children were young and it's stuck. I don't find a lifejacket uncomfortable, so I wear one. Swmbo insists that I do when she's aboard, as she's not confident of her ability to effect a swift rescue. I know she could get the boat back to me quick enough, but then there's always the problem of hauling out.

When it comes to crew it's there own choice unless, due to conditions, I insist.

[/ QUOTE ]

Steve, us two and our crews for the same reasons, after all this time together, we don't want to shout at anyone else when we foul up ( don't mention spinnakers, please! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)

 

[Norman_E]

Even more fun when you see the Elfin Safety Officer carried out to an ambulance because he is the very same numpty that Elfin Safety was designed to protect from his own stupidity. My best Elfin Safety moment was when some builders put up a ladder at a near vertical angle, because the ground further out from the wall sloped away. They were about to tie it on safely when the Elfin Safety officer arrived, insisted that it should be set at a "proper" angle. The builders said rude things, so the twit moved the ladder himself, and climbed it to show how safe it was. Of couse it slipped and he fell off. He was not badly hurt (a pity IMHO) but the builders were too busy laughing to get much work out of them that morning.

 

[smeaks]

I think life jackets are no longer cumbersome they dont impede movement and therfore i cant see any great advantage in not wearing them where the advantages are many fold. When short handed and the weather kicks it can happen quickly on the NE coast donning your jaket maybe down on your list of immediate concerns until just after you have forgotten to clip on and the boom kisses the back of your head goodnight.

Additionaly when you accept the responsibility of taking people out (novice and experienced alike) you are taking on reponsibility for their well being and saftey... I would always insist on a LJ being worn for your and their confidence.

To close i remember my old grandad "i never wore a seatbelt cause i never crash..." god rest his soul - old "scar face" smeaks!

 

[FAITIRA]

Bet Eric Tarbely, is wishing he had been clipped on or/and wearing a Life jacket.

I am guilty of not wearing harness or L jacket as often as I should. Bill.

 

[PetiteFleur]

My attitude has changed since having grandchildren on board. The rules are that when underway or in the dinghy the children wear lifejackets, they can take them off when at anchor and in marinas(they both are good swimmers). If a bit rough or at night then we all wear L/J's and Lifelines, I always wear one when going from the shore to my mooring, at the insistence of SWMBO, which is a ten minute trip(two people were drowned recently when returning to their boat).

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
If a bit rough or at night then we all wear L/J's and Lifelines,

[/ QUOTE ] even in bed?! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
When short handed and the weather kicks it can happen quickly on the NE coast donning your jaket maybe down on your list of immediate concerns until just after you have forgotten to clip on and the boom kisses the back of your head goodnight.

[/ QUOTE ] Hmm - how quickly does it kick up? Perhaps you're just not observant enough and should learn to anticipate the weather ...

 

[fireball]

I'm not saying that wearing lifejackets is wrong - I'm just questioning how your attitude to risk has changed and why ...

Because it sets an example to kids - yup, I agree - when we had a 10yr old onboard for an out the harbour trip then we made sure we all wore lifejackets - if we expected her to wear one then it was only fair that we all did.

Because the weather kicks up unexpectedly? .... well, perhaps you're not as prepared as you might be?

Because they are "no longer cumbersome they dont impede movement " .... they do impede movement - maybe not a lot, but I don't like wearing one ...

Nobody has mentioned that they feel like they are more likely to need one, or peer pressure or pressure from the RNLI or their boat doesn't feel as safe as their old one, or that they are getting old and less agile ...

In past discussions about LJs it has been said that it is far better to prevent yourself from falling overboard in the first place ... surely this is more to do with clipping on in appropriate conditions and assessing the risk of moving forward on the boat .. not to mention the risk of "using the facilities" over the stern! Have ppl become more scared of going forward without all their safety aids? It's not quite like the roads yet, where you're more likely to be killed by someone elses stupid actions rather than your own ...

 

[Canopy Locked]

I wear a lifejacket for the same reason I used to wear a parachute when doing aerobatics...... if you need to use one... it's too late to put it on!

 

[oldharry]

Re: LifeJackets - sometimes more of a hinderance than a help.

[ QUOTE ]
I have young children onboard so wear an LJ whenever we are not at anchor or moored. I do this as an example and in case I have to leap overboard to save a child who has taken a leap!


[/ QUOTE ] One of the few occasions when wearing a life jacket may actually cause problems.

Have you tried swimming in one? They are designed to turn and keep you face up - which means swimming quickly to rescue a child may not be possible. Usually about the best you can manage is a kind of back stroke doggy paddle at about half the speed of a proper swimming stroke.

Suggest you take a trip to the local swimming pool to try it out.

 

[ebbtide]

Re: LifeJackets - is everyone a pansy these days? [Fireball}

Haven't you discovered oilskin jackets with built-in buoyancy?
Automatic inflation too, so you can don't even have to blow - just float away shouting instructions to an unexpectedly deaf crew!!

 

[alt]

Re: LifeJackets - sometimes more of a hinderance than a help.

I wear my lifejacket for a few simple reasons:

If I fall in the water it will help me float effortlessly
It's the law (here in Ireland)

Simple as

 

[reginaldon]

Re: LifeJackets - sometimes more of a hinderance than a help.

Whenever I take my grandson out he alway wantss and has his lifejacket on, altho' he is a v. good swimmer and never mentions the fact that I haven't got mine on - if he did I think I would put mine on.