In the local news today, a 54-year old man is missing and presumed
drowned in Lake Washington. (I believe the incident occured in area of
the Seafair log boom).

The missing man is described as a "boat owner who jumped into the lake
to assist another swimmer experiencing difficulty."

Ironically, the swimmer who was initially having trouble was wearing a
life jacket and was successfully recovered. The would-be rescuer
jumped in without a life jacket and sank out of sight in 200-feet of
water.

I've always understood that if there's somebody having trouble in the
water, you have more options available for rescue if you remain aboard
your boat. Second best is to get out to the victim in a dinghy.
Jumping in has to be the very last resort, doesn't it? Maybe if the
victim is going down or unable to assist in their own resuce....but
you essentially wind up with two people in the water.

Monday morning quarterbacking- maybe a "throwable device" on a rope,
maybe even just a line tossed to the MOB..but once the MOB has grabbed
the device or the line it ought to be easier to haul him back onto the
deck from aboard the boat.

Maybe if you *have* to go in after the victim, it would be smart to
don a PFD, and perhaps grab a second one for the MOB? (in most cases,
the MOB won't be wearing one- this specific situation was unusual).?

Who's had some actual training or hands-on experience in this field?
Tom, maybe?

You have to admire the guy's courage for jumping in, but a different
decision would oviously have been better. I guess the time to mentally
rehearse for these situations is before they occur.

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:00:50 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Who's had some actual training or hands-on experience in this field?
Tom, maybe?

You have to admire the guy's courage for jumping in, but a different
decision would oviously have been better. I guess the time to mentally
rehearse for these situations is before they occur.

USCG MOB drills do not include anyone going into the water. One person
on board the vessel points to the person in the water (PIW),
continuously updated the coxswain on distance and bearing. Other c rew
members toss PFD's, or anything that floats to the PIW. Once the boat
is close enough to have crew pick up the PIW, he's retrieved. If the
person is in distress, having the boat alongside the PIW is
preferrable to having isolated crew members in the water.

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:00:50 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Who's had some actual training or hands-on experience in this field?
Tom, maybe?

In water assist is never an option unless the MOB is injured in some
way that precludes the MOB from assisting in the rescue. In that
case, going over the side without a PFD on the rescuer is inviting
diaster.

Most boaters don't have the equipment to pull off a simple rescue,
never mind one that is complicated. Something like a simple throw bag
or life ring are absent on most small boats. Throwable cushions are
fine, but I'll bet you any amount of money you would like to name that
nobody here on this group practices throwing one. Or how to throw
one. How many small boats have boat hooks? How many here actually
know how to properly throw a cushion or throw bag? How many know how
to properly approach a MOB for rescue - or the proper way to rescue an
unconscious, or floating face down MOB?

On my Ranger there are three throwable floating devices, one throw
bag, a spare PFD, boat hook and a full emergency breathing kit
including collapsable ambu bag for CPR all available in seconds. Every
time I take somebody out on my Ranger, they get a quick safety lecture
- small things like how to start the engine, how to steer, where the
rescue gear is located - things like that. Takes three minutes and
it's simple enough to remember. How many people do that?

I should write a book. :)

On Aug 7, 5:44 am, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

I should write a book. :)


Why haven't you?

On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:44:34 -0000, Tim wrote:

On Aug 7, 5:44 am, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

I should write a book. :)

Why haven't you?

Because when it comes to safety, it's always the other guy.

You learn from the experiences of others - unfortunately a lot of
folks just don't pay attention when it happens and apply it to
themselves.

On Aug 7, 9:11?am, wrote:
On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:00:50 -0700, Chuck Gould

wrote:
In the local news today, a 54-year old man is missing and presumed
drowned in Lake Washington. (I believe the incident occured in area of
the Seafair log boom).

The missing man is described as a "boat owner who jumped into the lake
to assist another swimmer experiencing difficulty."

The Red Cross lifesaver motto is "Reach, Throw, Row (and as a last
resort). Go.
In open warer "Go" is the worst option and then you shound be trained
and wearing a PFD.

Doing some research on this subject to refresh/update my personal
knowledge and possibly prepare a magazine article.

Came across one very excellent bit of advice.

It's commonly recommended to throw a life ring ASAP. Many sources
remark that the ring will help maintain visual contact with the MOB.
Maybe so, but a safety site for commercial fishermen comments that if
you can't see the MOB bobbing around, you may also have a tough time
spotting the life ring. That source advises additionally tossing an
orange smoke flare (which might attract help from a nearby vessel) and
if visibility is poor or the light is fading a light as well. I like
the floating smoke flare idea, to the point where I will be adding a
floating smoke flare to my inventory.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:00:50 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Who's had some actual training or hands-on experience in this field?
Tom, maybe?

In water assist is never an option unless the MOB is injured in some
way that precludes the MOB from assisting in the rescue. In that
case, going over the side without a PFD on the rescuer is inviting
diaster.

Most boaters don't have the equipment to pull off a simple rescue,
never mind one that is complicated. Something like a simple throw bag
or life ring are absent on most small boats. Throwable cushions are
fine, but I'll bet you any amount of money you would like to name that
nobody here on this group practices throwing one. Or how to throw
one. How many small boats have boat hooks? How many here actually
know how to properly throw a cushion or throw bag? How many know how
to properly approach a MOB for rescue - or the proper way to rescue an
unconscious, or floating face down MOB?


Don't forget: How to manage a MOB who's panicking, ready to grab anything
(or anyone), and threatens to sink YOU if you're in the water. Lifeguards
are trained to deal with this, although sometimes the victim's strong enough
to still cause trouble. Then, lifeguards improvise.

In article ,
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

Most boaters don't have the equipment to pull off a simple rescue,
never mind one that is complicated. Something like a simple throw bag
or life ring are absent on most small boats. Throwable cushions are
fine, but I'll bet you any amount of money you would like to name that
nobody here on this group practices throwing one. Or how to throw
one. How many small boats have boat hooks? How many here actually
know how to properly throw a cushion or throw bag? How many know how
to properly approach a MOB for rescue - or the proper way to rescue an
unconscious, or floating face down MOB?

Strange - over here in Europe (in particular Switzerland, but similar
regulations in western Europe) you are required to have a throwable life
ring including a line and a boat hook.
To get the license both for sailing and motor boats you will have to
demonstrate how to approach an MOB and how to get him on board, even for
the license on the small lakes only.

THE tip for getting somebody on board again is a swim ladder - unless
your boat has a very low freeboard somewhere (less than 80cm/30 inches!)
Otherwise it gets very difficult, especially if someone is unconcious.

Marc

--
Switzerland/Europe
http://www.heusser.com
remove CHEERS and from MERCIAL to get valid e-mail

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:00:50 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Who's had some actual training or hands-on experience in this field?
Tom, maybe?

The technique I was taught is to throw something floatable with a line
attached, usually a "life sling device". You then circle the person
to bring the line and flotation close by, similar to bringing the tow
rope to a water skiier. If the PIW is concious they grab the rope and
pull themselves to the boat, otherwise someone wearing a PFD has to go
in and assist them into the life sling for retrieval.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

Don't forget: How to manage a MOB who's panicking, ready to grab anything
(or anyone), and threatens to sink YOU if you're in the water. Lifeguards
are trained to deal with this, although sometimes the victim's strong enough
to still cause trouble. Then, lifeguards improvise.

That's a good point. I fished a big stupid jet skier out of
the Columbia river who fought me as I tried to get him in
the boat. Maybe he thought I was going to abandon his
sinking POS jet ski instead of towing it in. This was in
the middle of the shipping channel well after sunset with no
other small boats on the river. The moron wouldn't even
take a warm blanket or a shot of hot coffee after I got him
in the boat.