PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT & RESCUE BOAT Course Notes S4P tata ah Pat Gay | neon RIN TRANG CADET m@ nt wed sn yon ‘on ar, Dhaka» 35 Righting a Capsized Raft .... TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER | — SAFETY GUIDANCE Principles of Survival Notes . CHAPTER Il — SHIP EMERGENCIES 241 Types of Emergencies . 2.2 General Alarm .. 23 Muster Lists, General 24 Lifeboat and Fire Muster List 2.5 Man-Over-Board Muster List. 2.6 Drills and Instructions ..... 2.7 Safety Notices and Signals 2.8 Practice of Muster Drills 29 Records .. Notes .... CHAPTER Ill — ABANDONING THE SHIP 3.1 General . 3.2 Action in she Water 3.3_. ° Boarding the Raft from the Water 3.4" Getting an Injured Man into the Raft Righting a Capsized Raft with Water Trapped in the Canopy . 3. Surviving Aboard the Liferaft 3.8 Treat all Injuries ..... 3.9 Initial Situation in the Liferaft 3.10 Preservation of Body Heat . 3.11 Leadership and Morale 3.12 Establish the Routine 3.13 Water Use .......-...+ 7.14 Use the Sea Anchor or Drogue Notes CHAPTER IV — PERSONAL LIFESAVING APPLIANCES 41 Lifebuoy: 4.2 Lifejackets 43 Survival Suits . 4.4 Thermal Protectivi Immersion Suit) . 45 Immersion Suits “6 Rescue Basket * Notes Is (Not fo be confused with “=CHAPTER V — RESCUE OPERATION 5.1 Rescue by Helicopter... 5.2 Rescue Man Over Board . 5.3 Rescue by Ship an 5.4 Rescue by Aircraft Notes .......- CHAPTER VI — LIFEBOATS 6.1 Totally Open Lifeboats 6.2 Partially Enclosed Lifeboats 6.3 Totally Enclosed Lifeboat . 6.4 Free-fall Lifeboats... 6.5 Altemative to Free-fall 6.6 Rescue Boats on oe Built After 1st ae 1986 CHAPTER Vil — LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING DEVICES/APPLIANCES x Davit 7A Gravity Davits dee, The “Miranda” System 7.3 Luffing Davits ... 7.4 Single Arm Davits 7 Boarding, Launching and Recovery of Lifeboats 76 Free-fall Launching. oe Tee Methods of Maintaining, Operating and Starting © Lifeboat Engine 78 Fire Equipment ona Motor | Lifeboat 7.9 Boat Crew, Duties and Responsibilities . CHAPTER VIII — LIFERAFTS .. 8.1 IMO, Requirements for Inflatabi After 1st July 1986... 8.2 IMO. Requirements for Rigid Liferafts, 1st July 1986 .......... 8.3 Components of the Liferaft . 8.4 Launching of Liferafts ... 8.5 Hydrostatic Release Uni 8.6 Actions in the RaftCHAPTER I — SAFETY GUIDANCE Survival is the ability of a seafarer to stay alive when life is threatened in a shipping casualty such as fire, foundering or stranding, Collision, etc. when there is no alternative but to abandon the Ship. The knowledge of the proper use of your ship's lifesaving appliances is vital not only to yourself but also to your shipmates and to abandon a ship is a conscious decision that has to be made by the Master only. The purpose of the course is to maximize the chances of survival through a knowledge of the personal survival techniques which have been developed to minimize the hazards of the Survivors. Regardless of how near rescue services may be from the outset, Survivors must take action to Safeguard against the immediate threats to life. Having done so, survivors should then consider the next greatest threat and protect themselves against that until a sequence of priorities is established. Without proper planning, only the lucky will survive. PRINCIPLES OF SURVIVAL First and foremost, protect against the hazards of the environment before starting to worry about yourself. For example, the correct use of distress signals. Thus it follows that PROTECTION has a higher priority than LOCATION. A person can survive many days without WATER and weeks without FOOD, both protection and location have higher priorities than food and water. Survival techniques are therefore considered under four main factors: PROTECTION, LOCATION, WATER AND FOOD REMEMBER: No one is a SURVIVOR until RESCUED 1. Muster List The Ship's Muster shall prepare and maintain a muster list before the Ship proceeds to sea. The formal of the muster list for a passenger ship must be approved by the Department of Transport. On all ships reference should be made to the SI's and M notices listed above when muster lists are being compiled.+ The action to be taken by crew and + Other emergency signals and action to be t + Onpassenger ships, the lot The list must specify: : + The general emergency ala rm signal (7 oF more short blasts followeg by one long blast on the whistle supplemented by the electrical waming systems). . passengers on hearing the signal, laken by the crew, e.g. “man overboard’. cation of passenger muster stations. Usually these will be the public rooms, SO aS to protect passengers from the weather. + The name and rank of officers assigned to ensure that the lifesaving and fire fighting equipment are maintained in good condition and ready for immediate use. + Substitute for key persons who may become disable; taking into account that different types of emergencies may call for personnel with a variety of skills. The list shall show the duties assigned to individual crew members including: + closing watertight doors, fire doors, valves, scuppers, side scuttles, skylights and other similar openings + equipping survival craft preparation and launching of survival craft - see M1207 manning of survival craft which gives advice on the number of “trained persons” to be assigned to each survival craft station. * preparation of other LSA ~ * use of communication equipment manning of fire parties and special duties in respect to the use of fire fighting equipment and installations The list shall show the duties assigned to the crew in relation to passengers in case of emergency including: * warning the passengers. seeing that they are suitably clad and hav: eli correctly e donned their lifejacketsassembling the passengers at the muster station, keeping order on stairways and passageways, ensuring that a supply of blankets is taken to the survival craft. Copies of the list are to be posted in conspicuous place — including the navigating bridge, engine room and crew accommodation. Clear instructions to be followed in an emergency are to be provided for every person on board. Illustrations and instructions are to be posted in passenger cabins, at muster stations and other passenger spaces informing them of their muster Stations, how to don a lifejacket and essential actions to take in an emergency. 2. Practice Drills and Muster Each member of the crew is to participate in at least one abandon ship drill and on fire drill every month. Drills are to be held within 24 hours of leaving if more than 25% of the crew have not participated in the drills on that ship in the previous month. On passenger ships, the drills shall be held weekly. On cruise liners and cargo vessels carrying passengers, they shall be mustered within 24 hours of their embarkation. On cruise liners, the crews of the rescue and emergency boats should be mustered on the first day of the voyage, as soon as possible after sailing, and instructed and drilled in the prompt launching of boats and in the recovery of craft in a seaway. Similar drills should be repeated at intervals of not more than 7 days throughout the voyage. Each abandon ship drill is to include: + Summoning of passengers and crew to the muster stations with the general alarm system and making them aware of the order whic’: would be givento abandon ship. Prior warning of the use of the alarm system for drill purposes should be made to all persons on board. + Reporting to emergency stations and preparing for the duties on the muster list. + Checking that all persons are suitably dressed and have their lifejackets correctly donned,+ Where practicable, the lowering of at least one lifeboat. (Different ones at successive drills.) + Starting and operating each lifeboat engine. These should be run ahead and astem for a total period of not less than 3 minutes. If lifeboats are fitted with mechanical hand propelling gear this should also be examined and tested. * Operating liferaft davits. + Testing the emergency lighting Each lifeboat shall be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and maneuvered in the water at least once in every 3 months during a drill. Where it is impracticable for vessels on short intemational voyages to launch the lifeboats on one side because of berthing arrangements then these lifeboats must be lowered at least once every 3 months and launched at least annually. Rescue boats, other than lifeboats which are also rescue boats, shall be launched éach month and maneuvered in the water where practicable. In all cases this latter requirement must be complied with at least once every 3 months. Where climatic conditions permit, the crews of rescue boats should wear their immersion suits when crafts are waterbome. They should also Practice the recovery of an object simulating a person in the water.CHAPTER II — SHIP EMERGENCIES 2.1 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES The ship and the seafarer can encounter many different types of emergencies. Many of them can be avoided by care and knowledge about the dangers encountered. That is why it is important not to expose yourself or others to dangers by sloppiness. = Know your duties in an emergency — Be prepared — an emergency can arise at any time! — Knowledge and training gives you the best chance to cope with an emergency. Emergencies can arise from various causes, as for instance: FIRE/EXPLOSION can arise due to failure or faulty operation by equipment, by self-ignition caused by carelessness with open fire or smoking in the bunk. COLLISION can be caused by failure of machinery or rudder, insufficient watchkeeping or navigation faults. GROUNDING OR STRANDING, like collision, can be caused by navigation faults, failure of machinery or rudder, bad weather or the ship dragging its anchor. LEAKAGE occurs, when the ships null, deck or hatches are damaged. ICING can be dangerous for smaller vessels. It reduces the stability of the vessel, possibly resulting in capsizing. MAN-OVER-BOARD. To rescue a person fallen overboard safely on board again, a fast and efficient action is required by the crew. All the above emergencies present danger to human lives: most of them eventually can lead to the abandoning and loss of the ship. A happy ending of an emergency implies that you too perform your duties with responsibility and care,2.2 GENERAL ALARM ency Signal consists of seven or more short blasts f fale ane longibiae: an the ship's whistle and i Supplemented by the electrically operated bell or kiaxon which is ee Sane bridge or maybe at some other strategic point and consists of a rahe aaa of such duration as to ensure that is has been heard even ai fest corners of the vessel. On hearing such signal you must put on your lifejacket and proceed to the muster station, unless you have been given specific duties i.e. closing watertight doors, screwing down ports, etc. However such signal does not mean ‘Abandon ship”. Although the lifeboats must be prepared and lowered down to the embarkation deck they must not be boarded. The “Abandon Ship” order is given verbally by the Master through the public addresser and any available loudspeaker. After the abandon ship order is given, lifeboats are lowered into the water and the lifting hooks disengaged. Ship the tillers. Each boat will now be attached to the ship by the toggle painter and any crew left aboard should now enter the boat by means of side ladders or lifeline. The boat should then be hove clear of the ship's side using the toggle painter and Passing it aft, hauling on the inboard side, at the same time making use of the boat hook to fend the boat aft. After abandoning the ship it is best to row or start engine and when well clear of the sip, search for any survivors. Then join up with and make fastto any other survival craft and remain in the vicinity of the disaster area for at least 24 hours, as rescue vessels and planes will proceed to the distress call Position. 2.3 MUSTER LISTS, GENERAL In order to cope with an emergency situation in the best way it is necessary having planned ahead. The plans are called the muster lists, and comprise the boat muster lists and the fire muster lists respectively, and in certain ships there may also be a Man-Over-Board muster list. Out of consideration for your shipmates and yourself it is your dutyto ~ acquaint yourself thoroughly with the muster lists — think especially of:= Whatis my task, do | understand what! do? Where do | have to appear? — Where is the equipment to be used? — Who gives the orders? = Towhom shall | report? — Whatare the alarm signals of the ship? It is your duty to attend all musterings and drills. Your place on the muster list is either given by your profession, name, ship's number or room number. 2.4 LIFEBOAT AND FIRE MUSTER LIST Knowing the proper use of your ship's lifesaving appliances is important for yourself and others if an emergency is arising. You can improve the knowledge you already have by participating in the drills, by going through the training manual now and then and by being aware of all matters in your daily work concerning the safety of yourself and the ship. : This part of the training manual is about the complete safety and just like your own attitude towards the safety onboard it forms the basis of the complete safety. Notices called muster lists instructing each crew member what to do in an emergency shall be placed on board ships according to SOLAS. Among these notices are the “LIFEBOAT AND FIRE MUSTER LISTS” and they can differ from ship to ship dependent on company. In addition, lifeboat and fire muster lists will also differ dependent on type of ship and the size of the crew. There are certain general requirements to the contents of the lifeboat and fire muster lists and among these that they shall contain information as to when the alarm signals are used and how they sound. It is very important that all on board fully understand their tasks when an emergency occurs ~ and this is why it is the duty of every crew member to carefully study the lifeboat and fire muster lists immediately after being mustered on board. To make sure that all onboard constantly know their duties in an emergency, drills shall take place. It is during drills that things possibly not functioning quite according to the purpose shall be found and it is during drills you ask the questions you want to have answered. *Remember! Ask—while there is time to answer! During an emergency there is no time to answer questions. Remember! It is your duty to participate in the life boat (Abandon Ship) and fire drills and musters. 2.5 MAN-OVER-BOARD MUSTER LIST Ifa person falls overboard, it is important for his possibilities of survival that he is rescued on board again as fast as possible. The most frequent cause of death is not drowning but death caused by cold. To make sure that a person fallen overboard is rescued fast, especially Man-Over-Board muster lists - MOB muster lists — are found in some ships. These muster lists involve only a small part of the crew which in case of an overboard fall can launch the rescue boat fast and save the person fallen overboard. - A special rescue boat is found in some ships, in others the motor lifeboats is used. The Man-Over-Board muster lists should be placed near the lifeboat and fire muster lists. 2.6 DRILLS AND INSTRUCTIONS : As it is most important that the crew is prepared to act correctly in any emergency it is necessary always to be aware of what could Possibly lead to an accident: because of that drills for various emergencies take place frequently and in order to supplement the drills with some more theoretical matter instruction are given about the’ various life-saving appliances. 2.7 SAFETY NOTICES AND SIGNALS For the benefit of safety various notices and signs are places at various locations on board: these can be notices about various rooms contents or the contents of various containers and the like. Safety signs can be and should be divided into a system of mandatory signs, prohibition: signs, warning signs, emergency signs and fire fighting signs. These signs should be made in accordance with intemational standards and therefore where symbols, pictures and drawings are used in lieu of text, making them more easily understood by all nationalities.2.8 PRACTICE OF MUSTER DRILLS Once a month but within 24 hours from sailing if more than 25% of the crew were repatriated. Each abandon ship drill shall include: 1. Summoning the crew and any passengers to the muster stations as specified in the preceding paragraph. Reporting to stations and preparing for their duties. Checking that they are suitably dressed. Checking that lifejackets are correctly donned. Lowering at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching. Starting and operating the engine. - OPEN @ Different lifeboats to be lowered at successive drills. Drills to be, as far as practicable, conducted as if there were an actual emergency. At least once every 3 months each lifeboat must be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and maneuvered in the water. Crew to be lectured on procedures for launching the liferafts and of the use of the line throwing apparatus and the pyrotechnics. 2.9 RECORDS The date and time of each drill to be recorded in all log books (bridge, RIT, Engine).2 FIRE-MUSTER SIGNAL: @ continuous signal on the ship's whistle not less than 10 seconds (——) Continuous ringing with the firebells not less than 10 seconds (——) ALL CLEAR SIGNAL: 3 short tings with the firebells (—) CAFTA] IN CHARGE ALL OPERATIONS FIRE FIGHTING SUPERVISOR, FIRE-, followed by a FADO OPERATOR rings amargancy rade 2 sarboerd Wieceat used o comers CaBCr. equipment Br conic vin mamefoficers (wabee Bie FIRE CHIEF: CHIEF OFFICER ASSISTANT, CHIEF ENOINEER, ASSISTANT: 1al ENG. (CO, OPERATOR) FRE GROW FIRE HOSE GROUP no. 1 nate St the trectie® makes reacy tre te Ne ‘oxT GROUP FIRE HOSE GROUP No. 2 meets at te freckle! wien frasxe Cowbar and ailing mactune, makes reaay fre homes and rosie No Ne donee venting tape and re campers, an malas Mobos and Herat ready Ne owes af doors and windows and ramos ‘cons en af pervs have vacated they jeatine Ne FIRE HOSE GROUP ne. 3 aes at the Aemchiak. mates racy tre otes and nando r Ne and OFFICER IN CHARGE OF LIFESAVING AND FIRE APPLIANCES, MEETING PLACE WHEN FIRE ALARM: ABANDON SHIP SIGNAL: at least 7 ehort blasts followed bo one long blast on ship's whistle followed by the same signal sounded on the firebells (———) to,BOAT-MUSTER BOAT ALARM: Intermittent signals on the ship's whistie followed by the same signal sounded on the firebells (——) . ALL CLEAR SIGNAL: 3 short rings with the firebells (—) PUPT LIFEBOAT Te OFFICER | HEF ENGIMEER i | nd ENGREER ou -———————_ ~ Nae. our ry nae oy ‘ASST. ENGINEER, MAN OVERBOARD SIGNAL: ERR name the letter “O° (—) sounded at Onn? pape patton and tae Soe ese least 4 times on the ship's ean whistle followed by the came (sional sounded on the frebelis a coo NAME |g ouly eee Bese tare ae 1s OFFICER 2nd OFFICER CHARGE OF LIFESAMNG AND FIRE APPUANCES. 5 5 ABANDON SHIP SIGNAL: at least 7 short blasts followed bo one long blast on ship's whistie followed by the same signal sounded on the firebels (——) WSTATION BILL GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS vets Each person shall familiarize themselves with their assigned location in the event of an emergency immediately upon boarding the vessel. : All crew members shall be thoroughly familiar with the duties they are assigned to perform in the event of an emergency. Each person shall participate in emergency drills and shall be property dressed including a property donned life preserver or exposure suit. Inall vessels carrying passengers, the STEWARD’S DEPARTMENT shall be responsible for warming passengers, seeing that passengers are have correctly donned their life Preservers of exposure suits, assembling and directing passengers to their appointed ‘stations, keeping order in passageways and stairways, controlling passenger movements, and ensuring a supply of blankets is taken to the lifeboats. ‘The proper chain of command is indicated by the sequential numbers assigned to each Gepartment. Should a key person become disabled, the next senior member of that Separtment shall take the disabled person's place. The Chief Mate shall be responsible for the maintenance and rating: eS and firefighting apoliances and ewvip~en! zouve the main deck. The First Assistant Engineer shall be responsible for the maintenance and readiness of all lifesaving and firefighting appliances and equipment on the main deck and below. MASTER'S SIGNATURE FIRE AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS Any person discovering a fire shall notify the bridge by sounding the nearest avaiabie alarm and then take all initial actions as appropriat. Upon hearing the fire and emergency signal airports, watertight doors, fire doors, Scuppers, and designated discharges shall be closed and all fans, blowers and ventilating systems ‘shall be stopped. All safety equipment will be prepared for immediate service. OMED'S Numbers 9 and 10 shall check to ensure this item is completed after they report to their pon seeing a “MAN OVERBOARD”, immediately throw a life preserver (with at attached if at night) and notify the bridge by reporting “MAN OVERBOARD (STARBOARD) SIDE". In all cases keep the man in sight. Any extra persons shall report to the Hospital Treatment Room. CD hid ~SIGNALS Fire and Emergency Signal ( ) : The life and emergency signal shall be a continuous blast of the whistle for a period of not less than 10 seconds followed by a continuous ringing of the general alarm for not less than 10 seconds. Man Overboard Signal (- - -) ‘The man overboard signal shall be the letter “O" sounded several (at least 4) times on the ship's whistle followed by the same signal on the general alarm. ABANDON SHIP INSTRUCTIONS 1 All persons indicated in the diagram on the left should use lifeboat *2. All persons indicated in the diagram on the right should use lifeboat *1 2. Any extra persons should muster at lifeboat *1 Tt Pet 9 ; Pa ArT SIGNALS ‘Abandon Ship Signal ( co) The abandon ship signal shall be at least 7 short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle followed by the same signal sounded on the general alarm. Boat Handling Signats : Allboat handling signals be sounded on the ship's whistle and shall mean the following (} One short blast means to lower the lifeboats (ee) Two short blasts means to stop lowering the lifeboats ee Lt} ede . 13CHAPTER Ill — ABANDONING THE SHIP 3.1 GENERAL ; Records show that many ship sink inlessthan15 minutes: This orcs little time te formutaie a pian c aciion, so careful preplanning is essential to be ready in an emergency. Here are some sound pointers for you to Temember when abandoning ship. Put on as much warm clothing as possible, making sure to cover head, neck, hands and feet. . If an immersion suit is available put it on over the warm clothing. : Sf the immersion suit does not have inherent floatation, put on a lifejacket and be sure to secure it correctly. All persons who know that they are likely to be affected by seasickness should, before or immediately after boarding the survival craft, take some recommended preventive tablets or medicine in a dose recommended by the manufacturer. The incapacitation caused by seasickness interferes with your survival chances; the vomiting removes precious body fluid, while seasickness in general makes you more prone to hypothermia. Avoid entering the water if possible, e.g. board davit-launched survival craft on the embarkation deck. If davit-launched survival crafts are not available, use over-side ladders, or if necessary lower yourself by means of a rope or fire hose. While afloat in the water, do not attempt to swim unless it is to reach anearby craft, a fellow ‘survivor, or a floating object on which you canlean or climb. Unnecessary swimming will pump out any warm water between your body and the layers of clothing, thereby increasing the rate of body heat loss. In addition, unnecessary movements of your arms and legs send warm blood from the inner core to the outer layer of the body. This results in a very rapid heat loss. Hence, It is most important to remain as still as possible in the water, however painful it may be. Remémber, pain will not kill you, but heat loss will. sition you assume in the water is also very important in oe a Tost as stil as possible with your legs together, elbows conse! urside and arms folded across the front of your lifejacket. This close to Se aes the exposure of the body surface to the cold water. Sree your head and neck out of the water. ASTry to board a lifeboat, raft, or other floating ene Objects ay soon as possible in order to shorten the ee ce s ee ember, You lose body heat many times faster in water | th ae INC the effectiveness of your insulation has been serio aa eoaee water Soaking, you must now try to shield yourself oo rated a Windchiiy effect (convective cooling). If you manage to climl a lifeboat, shielding can be accomplished with the aid of a canvas cris ona Paulin, Or an unused garment. Huddling close to the other occupants of the lifeboat Or raft will also conserve body heat. Keep a positive attitude of mind about your survival and Tescue, This will improve your chances of extending your survival time until rescue comes. Your will to live does make a difference! 3.2 ACTION IN THE WATER Avoid staying in the water for one second longer than you need to, Body heat will be lost to the Surrounding water more rapidly than it can be generated. This leads to hypothermia (cold exposure), unconsciousness and death. Wearing extra Clothing will help delay the start of hypothermia.Get into the liferaft as soon as possible. When you are in the water, whether or not you are in a liferaft, try to stay near the boat, it may not sink and you may be able to reboard. If it stays afloat, searches will be able to spot it more easily than they can spot you. Staying close to the boat also keeps you closest to the position reported in your distress call. If you cannot get into a liferaft, do not swim aimlessly; swimming increases heat loss. Remain as still as possible using floatation to keep you high in the water. Heat loss occurs much faster in water than in air, so the more of your body you can keep out of the water the better. Now it is the time to inflate the extemal bladder on your exposure suit by means of the mouth tube. You may be able to get on top of floating debris (a lifebuoy, a board, even a dead body) to help keep you out of the water. If you don't have an exposure suit, use the [Link]. (heat escape lessening posture) technique. If your exposure suit or PFD has a whistle attached, use it to attract attention. You may not be visible, but using the whistle will enable you to let others know where you are. If you have taken the time *s prepare = personal survivai kil, you may have other signaling devices that will Doost your chances of rescue. Use them wisely. If possible, form a group with other survivors in the water. There is safety in numbers, and a group is more easily located and more likely to maintain morale. Huddling together will also decrease heat loss. It3.3 BOARDING THE RAFT FROM THE WATER Boarding a liferaft from the water without help is hard. Pull yourself in head first using the boarding ladder and lifelines at the raft entrance to get your upper body aboard. It may help to bob down and use the buoyancy tube, there should be internal lifelines to help you pull yourself all the way in. Try to pull yourself in with the boarding ladder and lifelines rather than the canopy, which could be tom by your weight. 3.4 GETTING AN INJURED MAN INTO THE RAFT If one of your crewmates is injured and unable to help himself aboard the raft, pull him in carefully to avoid aggravating his injuries. Hold him so he is facing the raft, until you get his upper body aboard. Pulling him in with his back to the raft could harm him if he has a back injury. Once his hips are resting on the buoyancy tube, gently tum him until he is on his. back and pull him into the raft. Keep him lying on his back until you have determined the extent of his injuries. 3.5 RIGHTING A CAPSIZED RAFT One person can easily right a capsized raft if it is d n jh, before the canopy fills with water. lone soon enoug : Swim to the side marked Right Here. If there is no markii the side with the CO, cylinder, Maneuver the cylinder side of the raft so thal it is downwind, then reach up and grab the righting strap. Strap by pulling Hosts up into the raft. !t may help kick your feet out as if swimming. If ae oT ots try pulling your feet or knees into the external lifelines t0 pie yeu ealveuae up on the raft. Some rafts may right while you are climbing o a em. (fnot, stand on the very edge, where the CO, cylinder . Lean back with all your weight and pull on the righting strap. iSIf the canopy is clear of the water, the raft will begin to follow you. if the raft is large, it will land on top of you unless you spring backwards just as the raft begins to right. If the raft does land on top of you, don't panic. The bottom of the raft is soft and flexible and your head will form an air pocket. Stay face up, catch a breath of air and pull yourself out from undemeath. If you try to swim out face down, your PFD or exposure suit could get hung-up and make it difficult for you to get free. 3.6 RIGHTING A CAPSIZED RAFT WITHWATER TRAPPED IN THE CANOPY Is with water, the raft will be more difficult to n the righting strap and try to pull it, you. may have to cut a hole in the non- taking care not to deflate the canopy or the If the inverted canopy fill Tight. Put as many people as you can o! it over. If you still can't right vulnerable part of the canopy, 3.7 SURVIVING ABOARD THE LIFERAFT If your boat is still afloat; remain secured to it unless fire or some other danger means that you must cut the painter. There are two good reasons for remaining attached to your boat: + It may not sink, and as long as it remains afloat it is potential form of shelter. If it sinks in shallow water, It may serve as an anchor for the Iferaft. 19ose to your boat keeps you closest to your distress position ea you easier to spot both visually and on radar. and makes ste near the inter, use the safety knife stowed ‘ ee coheed Sede i designed to avoid accidental damage to the entrance. raft. : ; If there is more than one raft in the water, tie them bestnbort al a doubled rescue line. Again, there is safety in numbers. You wii pa aor survival gear between the two, and it is easier to spot two rafts than one. If there are heavy seas, leave adequate slack between the fafts. When rafts are tied by a short line in big seas, they tend to snatch, which may allow wind to get underneath and cause a capsize. Look for other survivors. The survival Pack aboard the raft should include a flashlight that will aid a ni ight search and serve as a signaling device. Look for lights or reflective tape on other lifesaving equipment. Listen for whistles. If it is necessary to swim to a survivor, use a Safety line because the raft will drift faster than you can swim. if you have cut the raft free of the vessel, check to be sure that your . Liferafts can drift rapidly. The assists the search by reducing your distance from your distress position. The Sea anchor is deployed automatically on may rafts, and there is usually a spare packed aboard. Close the liferaf entrance when everyone is inside to keep out the old and wet and keep in the warmth generated by the occupants. Leave only @ small opening for vemilation. Post a lockout, Rafls are made so that you have the choice of Pumping the floor up with air or not. This is because in tropical climates, the water under the raft will help cool the inside. In northem latitudes, regardless of the time of the year, your should Pump up the floor with the hand pump inside the fafl. Some rafis have Seating positions which also must be Pumped up by hand. Inspect the liferaft for damage. Ifthere are leaks, use the repair clamps. 210Take seasickness tablets as soon as possible. Even hardened sailors are probably going to get seasick on a raft, and seasickness resutts in loss of body fluid and incapacitation. If you have an EPIRB make sure it is working (see the section on EPIRBS in the previous chapter). Leave it on, don't switch it on and off or work the switch unnecessarily. If you have handheld VHF radio, transmit distress messages to help rescuers home-in on the signal. Any portable two-way radio available should be taken aboard the raft. Distress flares and rockets should be used sparingly, and only where there is a likelihood of their being seen (see the section on Visual Distress Signals). If they are sighted by a searching aircraft, it may be some time before rescue is at hand, but your location will be known. 3.8 TREAT ALL INJURIES You must assess and treat serious injuries in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Medical Emergencies at Sea, with one exception, you cannot perform the chest compressions required for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because of the soft floor of the raft. A suggested method of performing [Link] is to place the victim on his back, on top of another crewman. The man on the bottom wraps his arms around the victim's chest, locks his hands and performs the chest compressions as if he is giving a bear hug. Where crewmen are recovered from the water apparently drowned, mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing should be started immediately and continued until help arrives, or you are too exhausted to continue. In cold water (below 70 degree F), near-drowning victims have been revived after being submerged for as long as an hour because of a body response known as the mammalian diving reflex. It is the same response that enables whales and seals to remain underwater for long periods. Don't give up on a near-drowning victim.