PERSONAL SAFETY

SAR Crew ManualChapter 02

Why?

Personal Protection

Personal Protection

• A human body loses 25 times more heat when immersed in water, than in air of the same temperature.

Personal Protection

Personal Protection

• In preparing to go out on a mission it is essential that all crew are properly prepared:

1. for a long and cold mission

2. for anything that might go wrong on the mission

Personal Protection

• If a mission turns out to be a long hard run to the last known position, and the crew are cold and exhausted when they reach that position they will be ineffective as a rescue resource.

Personal Protection

• If a mission goes wrong, and something unexpected happens to the rescue vessel, each crew member must be properly prepared for that emergency.

Personal Protection

• The run out to the casualty may well be made in adverse conditions, with low temperatures, a head wind, (and associated wind chill), sea and swell, in rain or snow, or spray over the vessel.

Personal Protection

• If you have forgotten to wear a toque under you helmet and your head gets cold, it will not be long before you are not going to be contributing much to the operation.

• The same goes for the lack of any other gear.

Personal Protection

• To increase your chances of survival in cold water

Wear gear that fits you

Wear gear that fits the weather

Wear gear that fits the mission

Personal Protection

• Safety gear must provide five essential features

Flotation

Insulation

Protection

Mobility

Visibility

Flotation

Flotation

Flotation

• A personal flotation device or lifejacket must be worn at all times by all crew in an open vessel, or when on the deck of a larger vessel.

• This personal flotation device must stay on the wearer in a 25 knot impact with the water.

Flotation

• A cruiser suit or anti exposure suit or flotation suit generally offer at least 15 pounds of positive buoyancy, and they satisfy this requirement, but reference is to be made to the approval labels in the suit.

• A dry suit generally does not fulfil this requirement, and will require wearing a PFD.

Flotation

• Some equipment vests are fitted with their own buoyancy and are therefore worn to provide the extra buoyancy to offset the weight of all the extra kit that may be carried.

Flotation

• Extra lifejackets are to be carried in case survivors brought on board require them.

• For suits, see slides on Protection

Flotation

Protection

Body Heat Loss

Heat Loss

• Once the SAR crew is properly dressed the principal heat loss will be through:

1. the head, face and neck

2. the hands

Thermal Underwear

Thermal Underwear

• A layer of good polypropylene, or higher grade of thermal underwear, will be of benefit in any prolonged operations out on the water in cold conditions.

• Try to avoid any cotton next to the skin.

Cruiser Suit

Immersion Suit

Protection

• Helmets

On any fast rescue craft crew members will be exposed to strong and sudden impacts, and accelerations/ decelerations.

The chance of head injury is high.

Helmets should be light, designed for use on the water

Helmets

Protec Ace Water Helmet

Goggles

Gloves

Insulated Footwear

Toque or Balaclava

Equipment Vest

• This should contain:

Flashlight

Strobe

Latex gloves and artificial resuscitation mask

Knife

Additional Gear

Gear Bag

Gear Bag

• Extra gear should be carried when embarking on a mission, it being unknown as to how long one is likely to be out.

• For this a water resistant bag should be used.

Gear Bag

• This should contain:

Toque or hat, or balaclava, and goggles

Extra gloves or liners, spare clothing

Chemical hand warmers

Phone No. and Identification

Small amount of cash

High energy snacks and water

Gear Bag

Distress Flares

• Personal flares are no longer to be brought on board vessels

Maintenance and Cleaning

Maintenance and Cleaning

• Use mild soap solution or mild non abrasive detergent if needed

• Rinse with fresh water and hang to dry in ventilated area

• Do not use harsh cleaning chemicals• Do not store in direct sunlight• Lubricate zippers• DO NOT DRY CLEAN

Maintenance and Cleaning

• Small damage can be repaired, e.g small tears, damaged zips, open seams or small burns

• Severely damaged suits should be removed from service

Cold Water Survival

Preventing Hypothermia

• Whilst in a boat, the best protection is:

Dry suit

Wet suit

Immersion Suit

Exposure Coverall

Multiple layers of dry clothing with water or wind proof outer layer

HELP

Hypothermia Symptoms

• Skin colour - pale or blue• Restricted movement - slow and listless,

uncoordinated and clumsy• Shivering stops when severely hypothermic• Slowing pulse and decreasing conciousness• Unconciousness

Don’t let this be you