TORPOINT MOSQUITO SAILING CLUB

MAN OVERBOARD

The Cox’n should consider if it would be safer to throw a line to the casualty if conscious rather than manoeuvring alongside, i.e. if the casualty is in difficulty inside the surf line, or in close proximity to other danger, would it be safer for his boat and crew to effect the rescue using a throwing line and pull the casualty clear of danger before recovery instead of committing his boat and crew to a potential danger.

Man Overboard: The Downwind Approach

Approach casualty from down wind and tide.

 Position casualty on port side, head towards the stern of the Safety Boat.

Man Overboard: The Upwind Aproach.

Approach casualty from upwind

Portside to.

Safety Boat will drift down wind

On to the casualty.

Take care that the Safety Boat does

Not get blown over the casualty.

RECOVERING THE CASUALTY FROM THE WATER.

When recovering a casualty from the water, always assume the worst unless you have positive information and facts regarding the casualty’s state.

Two methods are recommended to recover a casualty from the water and crews should be familiar with both.

VERTICAL LIFT.

Using an approach outlined in the ‘MAN  OVERBOARD’ section above, approach the casualty at dead slow speed, maintaining just enough speed to retain steerage. The Crew should be positioned in the bow of the boat, counting down the metres to go to make contact.

When contact has been made, make sure that the bow of the boat is turned away from the wind in order to keep the casualty upwind of the boat.

The Cox’n must cut the engine and join the crew who has grabbed the casualty.

With no engine power, all RIB’s, and most other boats will start to drift downwind rapidly, most boats (all RIB’s) will settle with the wind coming over the quarter.

Bring the casualty along the windward side of the boat to approximately its mid point.

Turn the casualty to face away from the boat, then, as the boat drifts faster than the casualty, the casualty’s legs will float up so that he (she) is horizontal in the water.

Stand so that one crewmember is on either side of the casualty’s head, grasp the casualty’s arms, under the armpits, with the hand nearest the casualty’s head, with the other hand grasp the casualty at about elbow level, and LIFT!

If you need to lay the casualty down, this should be with the casualty’s head towards the stern of the safety boat.

Vertical Lift.

Helm and crew turn the casualty to face away from the Safety Boat.

 Grasp the casualty under their arms, and lift.

HORIZONTAL PARBUCKLING.

Horizontal Parbuckling is a technique for use only on RIB’s. Serious injury may be caused to a casualty if this method is attempted in a rigid hulled boat.

Use this technique only when a horizontal lift is necessary or if the casualty is too heavy for the combined Cox’n and Crew to lift by means of a vertical lift. Horizontal Parbuckling takes time to set up and in most cases the vertical lift will be the most straightforward.

To lift by Horizontal Parbuckling:

1.Fix the two parbuckling strops to the inside grab handles of the inflatable tube using the clips fitted to one end. Separate the two strops by whatever distance is needed to fit one strop under the casualty’s upper arms, and the other strop under the upper legs.

2.With the casualty head towards the stern of the safety boat, pass the free end of the strops down the side of the safety boat, under the casualty, and back to the Cox’n and Crew, around the outside of the casualty.

3.The Cox’n and Crew then lift the casualty inboard, effectively rolling him/her up the side of the boat and over the inflatable tube.

IF ANY DOUBT EXISTS AS TO THE HEALTH OF THE CASUALTY AND ANY INJURIES HE MAY HAVE, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO FLOATING A STRETCHER UNDER THE CASUALTY AND AN IMMEDIATE REQUEST FOR BACKUP MUST BE MADE TO RACE CONTROL.

Horizontal Parbuckling.

1.       Position casualty alongside Safety Boat, head towards the stern.

2.       Rig the parbuckling straps down between the casualty and the Safety Boat, and up round the outside of the casualty.

3.       Pull the free end of the straps up, rolling the casualty up and into the safety Boat.

STRETCHER RECOVERY.

A MIBS Stretcher is held at Race Control and should be requested by VHF Radio if necessary.

A Stretcher Recovery will be essential if there is any suspicion that a casualty may have sustained a spinal injury.

If the stretcher is to be used consideration must be given to deflating the tubes of the RIB on the side to be used for the recovery. This will ease the recovery and decrease the likelihood of aggravating the casualty’s injuries. A RIB will remain stable with the tubes deflated, once the recovery has been completed, the tubes can be re-flated with the hand pump carried as part of the boats equipment.

A request for immediate assistance from the emergency services must be made to Race Control.

A judgement will have to be made by the Safety Boat Coxn. on the spot as to whether to recover the casualty using a stretcher or to wait for the arrival of the emergency services, this judgement is likely to be based on a number of factors;

Weather Conditions.

Availability of Assistance.

Water Temperature.

Proximity to Danger.

Remember: The casualty will be shocked, probably in pain, and almost certainly frightened. It is important that your approach to the problem is calm and reassuring.

A stretcher recovery will require the work of at least three people; it is likely that, if a stretcher recovery is necessary, other waterborne activity will be suspended to allow other Safety Boats to assist.

The MIBS Stretcher.

The MIBS Stretcher is designed for recovery of  casualties, especially those with Spinal Injuries, from difficult locations. The stretcher is built with restaining straps to hold the casualty in place, a head restraint, shoulder restraint, and foot trap. Lifting handles are positioned on each side of the stretcher, it is also fitted with a strop which will facilitate helicopter lifting if required. When correctly fitted into the stretcher a casualty is held in an immobile position in a relatively soft tube, the casualty may then be lifted, turned, and generally man-handled in the course of the recovery with only a minimal likelihood of aggravating any injury.

Recovery using MIBS Stretcher.

The Casualty should be arranged alongside the Safety Boat, as per the Man Overboard procedure, on the port side, head towards the stern.

The engine of the Safety Boat should be stopped, a second Safety Boat, if available, should be positioned alongside, starboard side to provide manoeuvrability if necessary.

The casualty will have a tendancy to float on their back, if their feet start to sink, the casualty should be supported at the feet and at the head end by crew members.

The MIBS Stretcher should be unrolled and the head restraint checked for security. Note the coloured lanyards at each end;

                                    Red Lanyard    -           Head End

                                    Blue Lanyard    -           Foot End

These lanyards are fitted only to assist in moving the stretcher under a floating casualty.

The stretcher should be slid under the casualty working from the casualty’s feet towards the head, until the casualty is contained within the length of the stretcher.

Once the casualty is positioned within the length of the stretcher, check that the head restraint is clear of the casualty’s head, and fasten the five casualty retaining straps.

Close the Foot Trap up over the casualty’s feet and pass the Foot Trap Straps through the loops on the bottom of the foot trap and secure them in the buckles.

Place the Shoulder Restraining Strap over the casualty’s shoulders, select the most appropriate Casualty Retaining Strap, pass the shoulder restraint uner the retaining strap and buckle it back onto itself.

Make sure that the Head Restraint is in the correct position, fasten the strap across the forehead using the Velcro fastening, fasten the Head Restraint Strap.

The casualty is now secured and is ready for lifting.

Remember: Throughout this operation the casualty will be helpless through injury; at the end of the operation they will be strapped up and incapable. Throughout the operation it is essential that the casualty is kept reassured and kept ‘in the picture,’ if not morale will plummet and panic may well set in.

Casualty secured in the MIBS Stetcher.

Remember; the Casualty cannot help themselves