Personal Survival Techniques Flashcards
Top Reasons for Abandoning Ship
- Fire
- Collision
- Grounding / Stranding
- Foundering
Four Survival Needs
- Breath
- Warmth
- Water
- Food
When you first report onboard you should…
Locate Muster Station
Locate all exits
Find all locations for firefighting and safety equipment
Make sure Personal Safety Gear fits
Muster List Includes
Alarm signals
Emergency instructions
Emergency duties
Lifeboat assignments
How often should each crew member participate in abandon ship and fire drills?
Each month, within 24 hours of leaving port if 25% of the crew has not done it in the previous month.
Recommended to run drills when a new crew member joins the boat.
SOLAS - Life Raft
SOLAS - Safety of Life at Sea
Highly visible color, automatic erection of canopy, 2 entrances, closeable, ventilated, viewing port, rain collector, insulated floor, withstand exposure 30 days, boarding or ramp ladder
Contents of 12 person SOLAS - Life Raft
Buoyant quoit knife sponges anchors paddles boat hook repair outfit leaky stoppers tin opener drinking vessel electric torch signaling mirror whistle red parachute distress rockets distress flares smoke signal fishing line food seasick pills water seasick bag Thermal protective aids radar reflector/pole
ORC Pack
Offshore Racing Club Pack
(Commercial vessels operating under blue or yellow 24m codes)
Knife, bailer, sponges, quoit, anchor, paddles, repair outfit, electric torch, hand flares, anti seasick pills
Davit-launched life raft
A davit-launched inflatable life raft is applicated in transferring the full-loaded liferaft by the davit which can be charged and loaded on deck. … If the ship sinking, the hydrostatic release unit can make the liferaft separate quickly from the wreck and inflated automatically.
Hydrostatic Release Units
Mandatory.
Release life raft when there is not enough time to manually do so.
They cut the retaining line of the raft
SOLAS - Life Jacket
One for working/rescuing
- inflatable
One for abandoning ship uncomfortable restrictive non-flammable whistle light reflective tape rot proof
EPIRB
Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon
Sends a distress signal to a satellite. It will pinpoint your position.
Signals are coded so rescue authority knows the name of the vessel and other information.
2nd signal goes to rescue aircraft to pinpoint position as they approach.
EPIRB Features
Capable of being manually and automatically operated
Transmitting continuously for no less than 48 hours
Batteries don’t need replacing but 2-year intervals
Highly visible color
Floating in calm water
Indicating light, showing that the signal is being transmitted
SART
Search and Rescue Transponder
Designed to trigger radars of searching ships/aircraft into a series of dots to appear on their radar screens.
Thermal Protective Aids
Lightweight bags or suits that cover the entire body, minus the face. Waterproof, highly visible color.
They reduce heat loss from the body.
Immersion Suits
It may be insulated or uninsulated, designed to wear with or without a life jacket or have sufficient buoyancy.
Covers whole body but the face.
Uninsulated: 1 hour @ sea temp of 41 degrees
Insulated: 6 hours @ sea temp. 32-35 degrees
Visual Distress Signals
Red Parachute Flares Red/White Handheld Flares Smoke Canister - Orange international recognized distress signal Dye markers Reflective Mirror Distress Flag
RTE
Radar Target Enhancers (Radar Reflectors)
Reflect radar energy from other vessels radar, so your boat can show up as a larger “target”
Boats operated in areas of shipping traffic, fog and low visibility are common. The ability to be seen by radar-equipped ships can make the difference between being seen and sunk.
Equipment Locations
Common Locations:
- bow
- bridge
- engine room
- individual cabins
- survival craft
- Life-saving equipment should be:
- accessible
- float free location
- clear of rigging
- protected from the elements
Emergency Alarm Signals
General -
7 short, 1 prolonged
Man Overboard -
3 prolonged
Fire/Emergency -
Continuous ship whistle
Continuous ringing of general alarm
Bell for 10 seconds
Abandon Ship - Only by verbal order of Captain
1 blast, lower life boats
2 blast, stop lowering
3 blast, dismiss from drill
Fire Onboard
Sound the alarm Attempt initial action Evacuate affected compartments Muster Station Headcount Personal Protective equipment Close doors hatch to starve the fire Shut down AC Remove combustible materials from the surrounding area Attempt to contain the fire
Man Overboard
3 prolonged blast (Morse O)
Shout “Man overboard” on the port, starboard, stern
Throw life ring or floatable object into water
Assign a pointer to constantly watch MOB
Press MOB button on chart plotter
Prepare to launch the rescue boat if needed
The medical person in charge to prepare 1staid
Send “Mayday” radio message if you cant get MOB
7 Steps to Survival
After abandon ship
Recognition - control emergency, make a distress call and initiate survival procedures
Signals - If no radio contact, use EPIRB, SART, flares, mirrors, flashlights, dyes, smoke, horns
Shelter - life raft, immersion suits, warm clothing, blankets
Water - Obtain as much as possible, ration immediately, devise rain catchment
Will to Survive - Create a sense of well being, appoint jobs, lookouts, food distributor, 1st aid, flare handler
Inventory - Collect everything you need in an emergency, have a ditch bag ready
Food - high energy, low salt, seasick pills asap, don’t eat for 24 hours to let stomach shrink.
2 Biggest Killers
Hypothermia
Drowning
If No Life Raft Available
Get clear of the vessel in order to avoid becoming trapped. Float quietly in your life jacket until help arrives. Join up with other swimmers and huddle together to stay warmer and you’re easier to spot.
Sharks
Retain clothing, especially on legs and feet.
Keep as quiet & stationary as possible, only move to keep the shark in sight.
In a group form a circle facing outward.
Bind bleeding wounds, if it’s necessary to swim do so with rhythmic strokes. Getting into an oil patch will help. Get out of the water if you can
Oil Fire
Get rid of life jacket, swim underwater as far as you can. When forced upwards to breathe, make a sweeping movement with you hands to free body clear of the surface. When breaking surface cover eyes, nose, mouth. Back to the wind, sweep flames clear with broad arm movements across the surface. Take a deep breath and get underwater rapidly, cover face when submerging head.
Actions in Life Raft
A. Cut the painter Stream the drogue Close the life raft B. Seasick remedy Injured survivors Bailout (remove water) Warmup Congregation of life raft (Cold, more people better, Hot fewer people better) Check for leaks C. Sharp objects Roll call Routine Watches (Set in pairs, inside/outside) Handbook
- Do not issue food within the first 24 hours
- Waiting
Stages of Hypothermia
Initial Immersion: 2-3 minutes, cold shock
Short Term Immersion: 3-15 minutes, exhaustion & drowning
Long Term Immersion: 30 minutes
Post Immersion:
HELP Position
Heat
Escape
Lessening
Position
- Elbows close to your chest, grip the neck of your life jacket, cross your legs, bring them close to your chest.
- Huddle if with a group of people, form a circle facing inwards
Crocodile Position
Try keeping your back to the wind, form a straight line
Frostbite
Wiggle nose, cheeks, hands, toes to keep circulation going.
Remove rings, watches, etc.
Do not massage the affected area when signs of frostbite begin.
Rewarm area with warm water, do not use dry or radiant heat
Heat Exhaustion
Caused by loss of fluids/minerals through heavy sweating.
Headache, exhaustion, nausea, cramps, fainting, pale, skin cold/clammy
*Rest as much as possible, cool environment, drink as much water as possible.
Heatstroke
Environmental temperature is very high and body can no longer regulate its temperature by sweating.
Headache, dizziness, feeling hot, the body will be hot to the touch, the body will be dry because they cannot sweat
*Strip clothing off, soak in water, give as much air as possible.
