RNLI Crib sheet.

[oldgit]

http://www.ybw.com/vhf-marine-radio...nli-marine-vhf-radio-calling-procedures-48074
Worth printing a copy and laminating and sticking on wheelhouse wall.
Would have been nice to have been able to get a PDF of this from RNLI.
OK for those of us able to blag a copy from RNLI or Icom but would have been nice for the majority to get version simply and quickly. ?

 

[Bru]

Well it would have been quite nice if they'd got it right. As it is, it's misleading to the point of being useless

First error: "Press BLUE channel 16 button"

On every VHF I've seen, including all four (two fixed,, two handheld) that are three feet to my right as I type, the CH.16 button is red, not blue

That's not to say it might not be blue on some units (as far as I'm aware there is no defined standard) but it definitely isn't the norm (I'm guessing it is on some Icom radios given that they've sponsored the sheet but I don't recall it being so although I haven't got one to hand. It isn't on my Standard Horizon and M-Tech radios)

Second error: "Press RED button to activate DSC if fitted"

Which red button? (See above!)

And the DSC activation procedure isn't that simple on any unit. You have to lift the cover and then either depress and HOLD the button for a set period to issue an immediate alert OR press briefly, then select the nature of the emergency from the menu and then activate the alert

The instructions on the crib sheet are useless to anyone who doesn't know the correct procedure (and by implication of no use to someone who does)

One could nit pick over the precise format of the MAYDAY call but that isn't mission critical. What is mission critical is that somebody with limited knowledge of the vessel's systems could waste a lot of time faffing about trying and failing to follow the initial instructions on the crib sheet

A rare black mark to the RNLI from me on this one

 

[Firefly625]

FWIW all the VHF's I have every had have all had blue ch16 buttons, but they have all be ICOM units much like this...

 

[adey]

It's probably worth printing a personalised version for your boat rather than a copy of that.
If we're being pedantic, it says "press and hold the transmit button" at the beginning but doesn't say to release it at the end. That might be an issue for an inexperienced crew member in an emergency.

 

[Bru]

I couldn't remember for sure Firefly, that confirms my suspicion that it's been written with reference only to Icom units

And that's not really that pedantic Adey, it's a common mistake especially if it's a frightened and inexperienced person on the mic

 

[petem]

I couldn't remember for sure Firefly, that confirms my suspicion that it's been written with reference only to Icom units

And that's not really that pedantic Adey, it's a common mistake especially if it's a frightened and inexperienced person on the mic

If you read the link it's for some stickers that are being distributed with ICOM units.

 

[Bru]

If you read the link it's for some stickers that are being distributed with ICOM units.

"The stickers will be distributed with Icom Marine radios as well as distributed by the RNLI"

My point about the Ch.16 button colour therefore stands. And even if it didn't that still leaves the shortcomings of the instructions on issuing a DSC alert

 

[petem]

"The stickers will be distributed with Icom Marine radios as well as distributed by the RNLI"

My point about the Ch.16 button colour therefore stands. And even if it didn't that still leaves the shortcomings of the instructions on issuing a DSC alert

Will the RNL distributed ones have the ICOM log in the top and be specific to ICOM radios? Would be a bit crap / confusing if this is the case. Anyhow, I think we all agree that a customised version of this (to suit whatever radio you have) and laminated would be an excellent idea.

 

[Murv]

I think it's a handy thing. Obviously the blue button thing is Icom specific, but I assume that they're sponsoring the project so that seems fair enough.

My wife and daughter both know how to send a distress message through DSC, there is a laminated sheet at the helm as a reminder for the heat of the moment, but I regard it as my responsibility to make sure they know how to summon help even if strict protocol isn't followed to the letter.
One thing I will be changing in my safety briefing after following some advice is to instruct people to hold the button for 10 seconds, as counting slowly to 5 probably won't be the most accurate in a panic situation!
Sounded like a handy tip to me, anyway.

 

[Bru]

I think it's a handy thing. Obviously the blue button thing is Icom specific, but I assume that they're sponsoring the project so that seems fair enough. .

Sponsored by Icom or not, I don't regard it as fair enough. Sooner or later, some poor sod is going to waste vital time trying to find the blue button that isn't there

IMy wife and daughter both know how to send a distress message through DSC, there is a laminated sheet at the helm as a reminder for the heat of the moment, but I regard it as my responsibility to make sure they know how to summon help even if strict protocol isn't followed to the letter.
One thing I will be changing in my safety briefing after following some advice is to instruct people to hold the button for 10 seconds, as counting slowly to 5 probably won't be the most accurate in a panic situation!
Sounded like a handy tip to me, anyway.

And to me. And a handy tip that is totally absent from the crib sheet.

By the very nature of things, this piece of work is going to be handed out to, and stuck up on bulkheads by, the inexperienced and the unthinking. It needs to be simple, accurate and effective. It fails on two of those

 

[Murv]

Sponsored by Icom or not, I don't regard it as fair enough. Sooner or later, some poor sod is going to waste vital time trying to find the blue button that isn't there



And to me. And a handy tip that is totally absent from the crib sheet.

By the very nature of things, this piece of work is going to be handed out to, and stuck up on bulkheads by, the inexperienced and the unthinking. It needs to be simple, accurate and effective. It fails on two of those

Actually, on reading the text again, I do agree with you.
Too many significant errors to be of any use, if there isn't a little more detail in the use of DSC then it seems a little pointless wasting time on that when the spoken message would become more important.
The reason I tell my family to get the DSC out first is so that the co-ordinates are sent automatically, any spoken message on top is then less concerned about the location so it would seem to me important to at least state holding the button in until the distress call is activated.

Of course, all that assumes that my daughter looks away from her ipad/tablet/phone thingy long enough to notice that I had disappeared over the side some time in the previous few hours...

 

[adey]

Of course, all that assumes that my daughter looks away from her ipad/tablet/phone thingy long enough to notice that I had disappeared over the side some time in the previous few hours...

Maybe the RNLI need to get with the times and accept text message distress calls. Then your laminated card could say something like this?...

Maydy,maydy,maydy
ti boat xxxxx
mdy,
R 20 is xxxxxx
We r fubar
sos ASAYGT
Bak@u

 

[Bru]

:encouragement:

 

[TwoHooter]

Re: RNLI Crib sheet

We took up the offer to have an RNLI safety inspection of our boat ("Are you Ready for Sea?" they call it) and he came today. It gave me a chance to ask a few questions some of which have been niggling away at the back of my mind for ages, and we discovered my lifejacket was a bit suspect, so very worthwhile. Anyway, I mentioned the criticisms of the radio safety crib sheet on this thread.

Our main fixed VHF doesn't have a blue Ch.16 button, it is black. Our secondary VHF has a red Ch.16 button. Our hand-held (Icom) VHF does have a blue Ch. 16 button but all the buttons are blue......so what use is that? He didn't think much of that aspect of the crib sheet.

When I pointed out that it says nothing about lifting a flap to access the DSC button or holding it down for a count of 10 he looked a bit red round the gills and suggested that perhaps someone ought to have a quiet word with the RNLI about this. He didn't volunteer.