toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Clipping on doesn't make you sink.
Questioned by RNLI re not wearing lifejacket.
- Thread starter longjohnsilver
- Start date
Clipping on doesn't make you sink.
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
You must be joking - if I turned round to our SAR flight and said "it's OK chaps, no calls for the next three month because everyone's safe" they'd climb the walls after day 2! Not that they like seeing injuries, or worse, but on the other hand they have a morbid fascination for what would be called "a decent working job"
I must admit I am getting more of an issue over recent years with the RNLI almost appointing themselves as guardians of our conscience - the main reason being, of course, they need to spend as much cash as possible before the Charity Commission question their reserve levels again.
The OP might find it worth dropping a line to Peter Chennell, Sea Safety Manager at Poole - or mention it to the local LB station if the guy was active crew.
The local LB crews are as good as ever, but, as it seems in many organisations, those further up are set on empire building and "mission creep".
So are you saying your SAR crews prefer people not to wear life jackets so they can practice their derring do more derringly than ever ?
Tim
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
MissFitz
Well-Known Member
That was what we were told by the Navy chaps on my sea survival course - apparently that's why all those Scandies & Russians who regularly have saunas & then jump in cold water/snow don't die when they fall in the water. I gather you can achieve the same effect by standing under a cold shower every morning, something I keep meaning to do but haven't worked up the enthusiasm for yet (being a big girl, like I said).
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
It does if the boat sinks with you clipped to it.
Tim
Can't deny that. This is why I think these things should be personal choice and not dictated by a bloke in a RIB who doesn't know you.
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Although they would die the first time, and there must have been a first time. I'm sure there are thousands of people who have only done it the once.
MissFitz
Well-Known Member
Ah, I think this is where the misunderstanding arises - as I understand it, the danger is not the cold shock itself, but the fact that it causes you to breathe in sharply & hyperventilate. Thus it's fine if you've prepared for the immersion in cold water by holding your breath (or are standing under the shower), but if you're not prepared you can breathe in water instead of air.
Kochi
Well-Known Member
Bit like insurance really. The chance of it happening might be very small but if the result if it does happen is bad enough then it's worth it. House burning down, ruinous, hence I insure my house. Toaster goes wrong, just buy another.
A friend of mine fell off a yacht when she was 19 and she drowned. I wear a life jacket.
A friend of mine fell off a yacht when she was 19 and she drowned. I wear a life jacket.
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Well, I'm fully prepared to believe that people who breath in underwater die more or less instantly.
I just think the chances of that happening are very low indeed, cold water shock or no cold shock. Also of course an LJ doesn't protect you from that because your head can still be under on first contact with the water.
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toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
More detail. Was there an MAIB report?
Kochi
Well-Known Member
No idea. It was in the summer of 1975 and I was working overseas at the time. I know they were crossing the channel en route to France. When I was told I was so shocked I didn't ask for more details.
My point is that for me although I don't like wearing a life jacket I do because of the possible consequences if I do end up in the water.
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toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'm sorry you went through that. None the less it's far from clear that a life jacket would have saved her. Maybe a helmet would? Maybe a drysuit would? We just don't know.
chanelyacht
Well-Known Member
No, I was countering the implication that there should be a moral imperative to wear lifejackets so that the "involuntary" rescue services wouldn't be called out. They undoubtedly would wish you to weat an LJ for your safety, not out of a sense of duty to them.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
They are still not legally obliged to rescue us. If a helicopter lowers a line to me I am fully entitled to ignore it.
If we should all wear lifejackets to save the lifeboats trouble, should we not all stay on our moorings when the forecast is about F4? Should we not make sure that we never sail at night? Should we ever sail at all?
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
That's why I bought safety harnesses with built in lifejackets for Jumblie.
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
That would be a sight "Go away young man on wire trying to rescue me"
Well quite, why waste good electricity on Nav lights just so it helps someone else see you. Night sailing should indeed be banned....not. Methinks you extrapolate this into areas it doesn't need to go. If you are making this into a 'use your common sense' discussion about sailing in general I'd not disagree, but I am of the persuasion that wearing an LJ is just that, common sense.
Tim
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
And I am of the persuasion that wearing an LJ when I deem it beneficial is common sense.
I respect your view.
It would be a dull world if we all thought the same.
Kochi
Well-Known Member
Fair comment and at risk of being called a hypocrite I confess to not wearing one in my tender. I just felt that with so many people saying they don't wear a life jacket I would put my hand up and say that I do wear one and why. Being able to clip on has a lot to do with it too.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Or, "If you think I'm taking that for bait, you are fishing for the wrong sort of fish!"