Using old flares

Okay I am probably stating the bleeding obvious, but back to the point in hand.

Why do you carry flares in the first place? Now we have answered that one, how would you feel if you needed them and they didn't work?

From my point of view it's like insurance, we know that we are being ripped off, but piece of mind makes us feel comfortable.

To me the fact you asked shows that you have doubts, go with your head.
 
FWIW, last year I tried to get a flare demonstration evening going in conjunction with the local RNLI station and the CG. It sounded a great idea where people could actually let a flare off "in anger" so if or when the situation arose they at least had some experience in the handling and use of the flares. I had access at the time to a considerable number of OOD rocket flares, smoke, HH flares and was willing ot arrange for sufficient pyros for those interested, In addition it would have been an ideal time to loose off any OOD pyros personally held.

It all fell flat when the local RNLI bod said they (the RNLI) would not participate nor sanction such activities unless they provided IN-DATE pyros for demo/practice.

The excuse given was Health and Safety - the OOD pyros may malfunction and injure someone.

As we would have needed to pay for the indate pyros if "everyone wanted a go", I put it to several people I knew who were in favour of the original idea and the reply was "forget it" so I did.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
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My local sailing club host a Bonfire on the beach for the RNLI each year, who always let off old para flares.

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And no doubt know to fire them over the water not over land, probably with prior notification to HMCG to avoid false alarms and probably wearing gloves for their own protection.

We live in Poole and around 5/11 see lots of parachute rockets dropping in gardens and have had several fall on roofs around us still alight. Trust me, read my lips, if I see someone I can identify doing it I will call the police - IT IS ILLEGAL.
 
What I do is to replace the sets in rotation. Lets call your flares A, B & C. Set A are those that have just gone out of date, set B are those your about to buy and set C are those that you're going to buy in 2009
Keep A & B - when B runs out, dump A and buy new set C keeping B & C.
That way you will always have 1 set in date and one out but the chances are all will work.

When it comes to dumping a set, as posters have said above dispose of them through official channels and NEVER let them off. IT'S ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peter.
RNLI SeaCheck Advisor.
 
Is this a regional policy?

We've had several club events in conjunction with RNLI and Coastguard, and never had a problem setting them up (though Coastguard reserve right to cancel persmission to within a few minutes of actual setting off, if they have emergency events in the area, and you have to call a few times to check status).

They provided more than enough flares to cover the event, and the biggest expense we incurred was hiring classroom near water. As I recall, we were not required to pay for flares, and the chap running it seemed to think it was very worthwhile from RNLI perspective to have users properly trained.
 
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Is this a regional policy?



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I know the south coast RNLI guy - he told me that all flare demos run by them now must be using in-date flares. There is a charge now I belive.
 
I have to agree with those who say it is a bad idea to let flares off over land. I have seen how hot these things are. I went to a demonstration in the middle of winter in Canada, at a lake that had several feet of solid ice (they were racing cars on the lake the day we were there).

A parachute flare melted its way about 3 inches into the ice, even though it seemed to have gone out well before dropping onto the ice, and a smoke canister melted down about 9 inches. I also used a handheld flare - some dross dropped onto my glove (ski glove) and immediately melted the nylon, leaving me with only half a glove, and my fingers completely bare (luckily no damage to my hand).

When I get a boat I will put some heavy leather gloves and eye protection in the plastic canister with the flares, so they are always there if I need them.
 
On water or Land ....

the statement <<One reason is because they are designed to be extinguished by the sea, so their use is .....>> is actually not true ...

Flares are based on Magnesium and this will burn UNDER WATER without problem once ignited. I have numerous examples of this in my time on Seismic vessels ... where flares fired off to warn fishing vessels etc. would land on the water and you could see themn descend into the deep still burning brightly !!

I agree that flares set of on land are particularly dangerous as the falling "incendary" - cause that what it is - is extremely high temp and can do serious damage way above that of an ordinary flame etc. There is no way to extinguish such a beast once it lands on something .....

The other reason for it being illegal - it is a Distress Signal recognised internationally .... not a toy or firework for playing with ...
 
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When I get a boat I will put some heavy leather gloves and eye protection in the plastic canister with the flares, so they are always there if I need them.

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Very sensible too. We have a pair of cheap leather industrial gloves in our grab bag and another in the flare container for that very reason, but I must admit I hadn't thought about the eye protection.

Robin
 
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