Sikander Farooq inquest - UK
Carl Douglas
http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=12213
--
Carl Douglas
Liz
I was reminded of this observation after reading the inquest piece -
At Marlow Town at the weekend the Reading 'tinies' were all wearing
lifejackets to race in.
Neil Wallace
> Report from day 1 of this inquest is available on:
>
> http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=12213
Thanks Carl.
This inquest is going to have massive reprocussions, I'm sure.
I didn't know it was the poor boy's first time out in a racing single.
I flipped on my first time also.
Carl Douglas
Latest news:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=12223
Meanwhile, those of us who think we'd have handled it differently should
stop, take a deep breath & then recall those other occasions - when we
did get something badly wrong, but luck was still on our side.
The vital lessons are still to come. I understand that the ARA has now
ditched its lunatic capsize drill instruction - to swim to the bows of
the boat and from there tow it to the shore. The coroner, who has a
fine reputation, will give us the benefit of his thoughts next week.
Carl
--
Carl Douglas
anto...@aol.com
>
> Meanwhile, those of us who think we'd have handled it differently should
> stop, take a deep breath & then recall those other occasions - when we
> did get something badly wrong, but luck was still on our side.
Oh are you spot on there Carl. Like letting two girls row a 2x when
visibility was poor on a lake. I said, row for 1 hour. After 2 they had
not returned. The fog had decended and you could not see your elbow.
They arrived back after 2 and a half hours smilling and laughing.
Apparently they thought I said row out for 1 hour so turned round after
that. They did have life preservers on as all non coached boats did
irrelevant of ability in cold weather or anytime when dark. But in the
fog no one would have seen them fall in. For about an hour, life as I
knew it had ended. You are lucky when you can learn by your mistakes.
Alistair Potts
> Meanwhile, those of us who think we'd have handled it differently should
> stop, take a deep breath & then recall those other occasions - when we
> did get something badly wrong, but luck was still on our side.
I used to coach 13, 14 year olds on the Cam, employed by one of the
schools. I don't think I ever gave a second thought to their safety,
really, with respect to immersion. One girl capsized in a single in
January - it was only luck that I was nearby to pull her out of the
river. It never crossed my mind that she might be in genuine danger.
Figuring she was too cold to get back in the boat, I made her run back
to the boathouse, about ten-fifteen minutes away. I had to keep an eye
on the other children. No harm done... I'd pretty much forgotten about it.
The fact that the poor kid was in his jeans was the oh-good-grief-no
moment of reading this horrible tale.
A
Stephen Blockley
> Latest news:
> http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=12223
>
> Meanwhile, those of us who think we'd have handled it differently
> should stop, take a deep breath & then recall those other occasions -
> when we did get something badly wrong, but luck was still on our side.
>
> The vital lessons are still to come. I understand that the ARA has
> now ditched its lunatic capsize drill instruction - to swim to the
> bows of the boat and from there tow it to the shore. The coroner,
> who has a fine reputation, will give us the benefit of his thoughts
> next week.
>
> Carl
This very sad sequence of events must not be viewed as an isolated incident,
but should be interpreted within the context of the sport of rowing as a
whole. The people involved were acting within the general safety
environment set by the sport's administrators from 'top' ARA level
downwards.
It is not yet appropriate to comment specifically on the events leading to
Sikander's death, so the following is intended as general comment.
In our opinion the ARA Water Safety Code is still a very flawed document
which fails to adequately inform or advise on basic safety matters. For
example:
1) Essential possibly life saving guidance like the 'stay with the boat
rule' is relegated to a subsidiary sentence in a paragraph on a different
subject, and appears as if it is an afterthought.
2) There is no advice on how to avoid or deal with cold water immersion - a
stunning omission..... considering the low inland water temperatures in the
UK throughout the year.
3) It does not give any information as to what is a heel restraint, or why
it is there. Again heel restraints are a life saving piece of gear. All it
says is that they "should be properly adjusted" - but does not explain what
this means and how it is achieved. Previous discussions on RSR have shown
that there are many different ideas about what is required from a heel
restraint, not all of them safe - and this is because there is no official
definition in the WSC.
We could go on and on....not to mention the continued lack of clarity
defining an adequate level of buoyancy! The Salvage Association risk
assessment carried out for the PLA also contained numerous criticisms of
the inadequacies of the ARA WSC.
So evidently the official "bible" of water safety for rowers gives
inadequate guidance. But the problem does not stop there. We assume all
Clubs are aware of the need for risk assessment. But, all too often,
filling out the form is as far as it goes. As Jeremy once said, words are
not enough. The club must ensure that risk assessment is fully translated
into action by every club member.
So many rank and file club rowers know little about safety matters, and
assume that someone else is dealing with it. They reasonably assume that if
there was something they really needed to know, then someone in authority
would have told them about it - and would be telling them about it on a
regular basis.
We have seen club safety rules which more or less just rely on the ARA Water
Safety Code, with such words as "All members must follow the ARA WSC at all
times". Sorry folks, but that simply is just not good enough! Firstly, as
we said, it has gaping holes in it, but secondly, is it at all realistic to
expect all members to actually read, learn and inwardly digest the thing?
We think not. It is not exactly user friendly.
You might be thinking it is the responsibility of individuals to
individually seek out and learn all about rowing safety. Actually the
responsibility for safety education and enforcement rightly lies with the
club who are providing the facilities and equipment and allowing members to
use them. To paraphrase the old educational adage - 'If the members haven't
got the message, then the club hasn't said it'.
We suspect that there are many people in rowing who will be jolted into
thinking "There but for fortune..." If this Inquest into Sikander's tragic
death, and the pending Inquest into our son's death (currently scheduled 3rd
October for one week) help improve safety rules, and galvanise people into
putting those safety rules into action, then we might begin to feel that
those precious lives were not wiped out completely in vain.
Jane and Stephen
Jon Anderson
> The vital lessons are still to come. I understand that the ARA has now
> ditched its lunatic capsize drill instruction - to swim to the bows of
> the boat and from there tow it to the shore. The coroner, who has a
> fine reputation, will give us the benefit of his thoughts next week.
I never did like swimming to the bow of a scull. Frankly it was
difficult but in addition to this the bow just sunk. Maybe holding on to
the middle and doing the same is a better idea.
What *is* the ideal way for a sculler (let's assume no one is about to
rescue them) to get themselves out of the river in cold conditions?
Clambering on top, when I've tried it, was difficult and this was in a
warm swimming pool.
Jon
--
Durge: j...@durge.org http://users.durge.org/~jon/
OnStream: acco...@rowing.org.uk http://www.rowing.org.uk/
[ All views expressed are personal unless otherwise stated ]
Carl Douglas
Every word of that was right on the nail.
The ARA website states:
"Who has a Duty of Care in Rowing? – Put in simple terms,
everyone connected with the sport.
"The Amateur Rowing Association – has a duty to ensure:
"That it provides guidance and rules to promote a safe
background to the sport.
"That it monitors incidents and accidents to highlight trends,
dangerous situations and practices.
"That it provides advice and rule reviews based upon its findings.
"That it educates its Clubs and membership to provide a safer
environment."
While the ARA thus admits to having a "duty of care" (something it had
previously denied, BTW), it is not evident that it yet recognizes the
meaning of that term, or of its statement above.
During the Henley Boat Races this year I bumped into Di Ellis (ARA
Chairman) by the tea wagon. During an amicable discussion I noted that
there were now 2 inquests pending into UK rowing fatalities whose
outcomes were unlikely to bode well for rowing. I noted further that,
despite the undisputed expertise available within the Leo Blockley
Memorial campaign, the ARA had bluntly spurned all our offers of expert
assistance with the formulation of a valid and effective water safety
policy, all of which she acknowledged. I then told her that, despite
past ARA reactions, we remained open and willing to work with the ARA to
that end if the ARA would work with us, that this would be a good
response to the situation & that it might even help to defuse possible
adverse comment following the inquests. She agreed this would be a good
idea and that we should take it further. I said I looked forward to
hearing from her shortly.
I had previously made, in writing, a similar approach to Sophie Mackley
at the ARA. This, while acknowledged, was thereafter ignored. I
informed Ellis of that during our meeting at Henley, & she expressed
regret.
So I have waited patiently & quietly ever since. I have still heard
nothing from the ARA.
Yet it speaks volumes
Carl
--
Carl Douglas Racing Shells -
Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
Write: The Boathouse, Timsway, Chertsey Lane, Staines TW18 3JY, UK
Email: ca...@carldouglas.co.uk Tel: +44(0)1784-456344 Fax: -466550
URLs: www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)
Neil Wallace
I tried on the ARA lifejacket (the one advertised in regatta recently) last
night.
One of our senior members rowed in it.
I can think of a variety of situations where it would be useful to use
these. Young people on their first few outings in singles would be high on
that list.
chris harrison
Notwithstanding the various arguments, I am mildly concerned at the
possible ramifications of the quote
''[the Reading coach] admitted it was “unreasonable and unfair” that
life jackets were not mandatory in rowing''
While this is certainly a true enough description of novice single
scullers in their first outings in a 1x - is it the same for a senior
eight? Need it be?
Will it be?
Carl Douglas
>Carl Douglas wrote:
>> The vital lessons are still to come. I understand that the ARA has now
>> ditched its lunatic capsize drill instruction - to swim to the bows of
>> the boat and from there tow it to the shore. The coroner, who has a
>> fine reputation, will give us the benefit of his thoughts next week.
>
>I never did like swimming to the bow of a scull. Frankly it was
>difficult but in addition to this the bow just sunk. Maybe holding on
>to the middle and doing the same is a better idea.
>
>What *is* the ideal way for a sculler (let's assume no one is about to
>rescue them) to get themselves out of the river in cold conditions?
>Clambering on top, when I've tried it, was difficult and this was in a
>warm swimming pool.
>
There is no perfect way to survive if you capsize in cold water, just
better & worse ways.
The first rules to remember are:
1. You lose limb strength & dexterity very rapidly due to chilling of
the blood, especially if you have no insulating effect because your
limbs are uncovered by clothing &/or fat
2. Chilling rate in cold water is about 30 x as fast as in still air at
the same temperature
3. Forced convection, as caused by attempting to swim or to move
rapidly in the water, raise those chilling rates by 50% or more.
So, if you do capsize in cold water you have only a short window of
opportunity before you are beyond self-help, & that window may be
further shortened by the adverse physiological consequences of cold
shock.
While you are still fully functional the prime objective is to get
yourself out of the water as far as possible.
Some people can right & re-enter a single under those circumstances, but
the consequences of trying & failing a couple of times are that you will
chill very rapidly.
Far more certain of first-time success is to put all your effort into
getting yourself draped over the upturned hull in double quick time.
Not dead easy but, depending on temperature, you just _must_ galvanise
yourself to do it - without delay or faffing about. No time to get
emotional! Once you have a large chunk of yourself out of the water in
that way your chill rate goes well down, even if the air is very cold.
And now you nolonger have to hold on (hand grip goes first as you chill)
or to swim just to avoid drowning.
Once draped over the upturned hull in that way, if still able to you can
then paddle the boat with your hands - either towards safety or away
from danger.
No one ever claims this to be easy-peasy, but some things in life are a
bit harder than others. And when the possible alternative is death,
that's a powerful motivator.
Chilling is a large part of the problem. You lose heat from every part
of the body, but for survival the arms are very important since once
they give up you will probably drown if still in the water. And the
only way to reduce rates of chilling is by thermal insulation - i.e.
clothing.
So if you go sculling, or rowing, in low temperatures, then never do so
without wearing multiple layers of clothing over your body & arms, &
legs if possible, & a hat or hood makes huge sense as well, since the
head is a major heat emitter. The principle is that you trap multiple
layers of water &, hopefully, air, and it is the thermal barrier created
by the multiple transitions between fabric & stagnant fluid which slows
the rate of heat transfer to the bulk water outside. And, if you can,
you would be wise to incorporate a water-resistant layer within that
lay-up to reduce the amount of through-flow of water within the
clothing.
So, in multiple layers of clothing you will run a bit hotter. But you
run a lot hotter in the summer without complaint, & your muscles will be
less prone to injury & more effective if kept really warm.
Final point: people may say that all that clothing makes you heavy.
No, it doesn't, at least not while you are in the water. Sure, it
carries a lot of water with it, but that is buoyancy neutral or, if it
traps air, it is then slightly positive when you are in the water.
HTH
Henry Law
<Ca...@carldouglas.co.uk> wrote:
>Meanwhile, those of us who think we'd have handled it differently should
>stop, take a deep breath & then recall those other occasions - when we
>did get something badly wrong, but luck was still on our side.
One evening this week I was detailed to look after a young sculler on
his second trip out in the tippy boat. My job was to keep an eye on
him from the bank and offer the odd helpful suggestion.
I was about to set off on my mission when the man who runs the
beginners' session gave me a small plastic bag; "you must carry this,"
he said. It contained a simple throw line - a plastic bottle with a
length of nylon cord. I confess that I chafed at this - it was hard
enough running up and down after this young fellow (who in his second
outing, damn it, was sculling better than I can) without having to
carry something, but having read this blood-chilling account of how
Sikander died I'm really grateful that the coach made me do it.
I thought later that it might have been well for the plastic bottle to
have a little water in it, to make it carry better when thrown. Any
thoughts on this?
--
Henry Law <>< Manchester, England
Edd
> I thought later that it might have been well for the plastic bottle to
> have a little water in it, to make it carry better when thrown. Any
> thoughts on this?
Yeah, that proper throw lines aren't that expensive :-)
Aside from that, yes, you want it a bit heavy so it'll throw well.
--
Edd
John Mulholland
news:gov7b1dfmcmgdeh77...@4ax.com...
>
<snip>
> I thought later that it might have been well for the plastic bottle to
> have a little water in it, to make it carry better when thrown. Any
> thoughts on this?
> --
>
> Henry Law <>< Manchester, England
If you get one of the "proper" throw lines where the rope is coiled up in a
canvas bag, throw it and miss; the recommended technique is to pull in the
rope, fill the canvas bag with water and throw it again. So, yes, fill your
plastic bottle with water. Also get some practice! It took me several
attempts to get the line anywhere close to the right direction. If you have
anything, like a buoy, in reasonable range try to throw the bottle just past
it so the rope lies across the buoy (casualty). You're not aiming to hit
the casualty, but to get the rope to him, or her.
John Mulholland
Jon Anderson
> I thought later that it might have been well for the plastic bottle to
> have a little water in it, to make it carry better when thrown. Any
> thoughts on this?
Good throwlines are worth their weight in gold.
I'd always fill it with water before the first throw. Throwing one of
those things accurately in a hurry is not easy.
And yes do practice. You'll be quite scared at how inconsistent you can be!
Carl Douglas
>Why is the instruction to "swim to the bows of the boat and tow it to
>the shore" lunatic? Actually, the instruction is to make your way
>(not swim, but holding on to the boat) to whichever end is nearer (so
>as not to have to duck under a rigger). It's worked for me on the
>(fortunately few) occasions when I've been for a swim, and has been
>taught to all our juniors.
Because, in short, it can kill. Especially in cold water.
I have already explained in detail in this thread why swimming anywhere,
whether to the bows or to the bank, can be dangerous where better
options exist - all due to the chilling effect of immersion being
amplified by the improved heat transfer caused by swimming actions.
I can think of no situation in which swimming to the bow (or stern),
which gives minimal effective support at any time being so thin &
non-buoyant, especially for anyone rapidly losing strength through
hypothermia & perhaps starting to lose the plot because of that.
Only in the UK do any instructors I've spoken with imagine that swimming
to the bow as the first stage of self-rescue is a good idea. Coaches of
all other nationalities with whom I've discussed this think it very
unwise.
In cold water - which is the main cause for concern (but when in the UK
is the water ever warm in survival terms) - the dominant priority is to
get your body out of the water, pronto. Then you have survival time,
nolonger have to work to stay afloat & thus should not drown. For
further reasons not to try to tow the boat from the bows, please
consider also the effect of any wind on the boat: the boat will
weathercock, especially since loading the bow will raise the stern &, in
all probability, will swing across the direction you wish to take.
Boats do not tow sideways any more easily than they row sideways, while
wind drag on the boat may further impede your progress.
>
>The revised Instructors Award course, which will be launched in the
>autumn, teaches you how to get back into the boat and how to do a
>"buddy" rescue where the swimmer climbs onto another sculler's boat who
>then sculls it to the bank. This technique is designed to get the
>swimmer's torso out of the water thereby reducing the risk of
>hypothermia. And yes, it has been tested with a heavy swimmer. I
>haven't tried it yet (the tutors' course is in September), but it
>sounds like a step in the right direction.
>
Buddy rescues are fine - as long as you have a buddy there to rescue
you.
Getting back in is fine - as long as you can do it quickly & cleanly.
But if in coldish water you struggle & fail a couple of times, then you
will have paid a very high heat loss penalty which may be all it takes
to weaken you enough to kill you through consequent drowning.
Flumping your torso over the upturned boat is _always_ an available
option. Not only that - it is often the one & only fail-safe option
available to a single sculler. From there you can have reasonable
command of your own survival. It may lack style, but easily beats being
dead.
Cheers -
carol...@aol.com
the shore" lunatic? Actually, the instruction is to make your way
(not swim, but holding on to the boat) to whichever end is nearer (so
as not to have to duck under a rigger). It's worked for me on the
(fortunately few) occasions when I've been for a swim, and has been
taught to all our juniors.
The revised Instructors Award course, which will be launched in the
autumn, teaches you how to get back into the boat and how to do a
"buddy" rescue where the swimmer climbs onto another sculler's boat who
then sculls it to the bank. This technique is designed to get the
swimmer's torso out of the water thereby reducing the risk of
hypothermia. And yes, it has been tested with a heavy swimmer. I
haven't tried it yet (the tutors' course is in September), but it
sounds like a step in the right direction.
Caroline
Carl Douglas
>carol...@aol.com writes
>>Why is the instruction to "swim to the bows of the boat and tow it to
>>the shore" lunatic? Actually, the instruction is to make your way
>>(not swim, but holding on to the boat) to whichever end is nearer (so
>>as not to have to duck under a rigger). It's worked for me on the
>>(fortunately few) occasions when I've been for a swim, and has been
>>taught to all our juniors.
>
>Because, in short, it can kill. Especially in cold water.
>
To underline the dangers of cold water for hot people, even in summer:
During the present week-long heatwave in the UK, no less than 7 people
have been reported drowned while taking a quick dip to cool down, 3 of
them in the last 24 hours
At the edges, where they enter the water, it feels warm. So they swim
out to deeper water. There, while the surface waters may still be warm,
there is a strong negative temperature gradient may leave the deeper
waters no warmer than the surface was several months earlier, especially
in lakes but also in many rivers. So not only is their lower body
suddenly in very chilly water, but the act of swimming stirs the water &
brings the cold right up to the surface. Now they are suddenly &
completely immersed in cold water - far colder than they'd ever have
chosen for their swim.
That cold, perhaps coupled with the effects of cold shock, can then be
immediately deadly. In such circumstances it is not uncommon for a
person who, up to that very moment, was apparently having a great time
to suddenly cease swimming &, without warning, go straight under & die.
chris harrison
> I spotted three people swimming in Dorney Lake during Marlow Regatta,
> and politely asked them to get out. No, they weren't in the main
> lake, but in the little area just under the bridge at the start. With
> its half-finished gravel banks in that area, getting out of the water
> could easily have been a difficult job.
There were a number of crews using the bridge, troll-like, to shelter
from the sun on Saturday ...
donal...@gmail.com
and effective means of getting out of the water which my 9 and 11 year
old were able to do within perhaps 10 seconds from having fallen out of
the boat, tapped it 3 times on the top, manouevred out around the
rigger and in one easy movement extricated themselves from the water.
They found this a lot of fun. Also canoeists were out at the same time
and they were doing all sorts of capsize experience as part of a
regular session rather than a one off session for the rowers. We will
probably join in with this too.
Donal
donal...@gmail.com
I think the extra time taken to right a boat as opposed to simply
climbing aboard and surfing it makes climbing back in potentially a
more dangerous method of recovery. There is also the practical problem
that unless the kids are in a boat of their own size (in my kids case
30kg) then the boat is too high out of the water to clamber into easily
when righted. We did the test in a club single but I suspect the
reality for a lot of nippers is that they will be overboated due to
lack of suitable equipment.
Regards
Donal
Henry Law
<donal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Having tried this over the weekend
Half the value of your post, Donal, is lost on me because I'm not able
to work out what "this" refers to. Google groups' news posting
service does us all a dis-service by not automatically quoting the
earlier post when doing follow-ups, but it can be made to do so; could
you do that in future?
>the boat, tapped it 3 times on the top, manouevred out around the
... and in particular I've missed the earlier reference to tapping the
boat on the top.
Jon Anderson
> Half the value of your post, Donal, is lost on me because I'm not able
> to work out what "this" refers to. Google groups' news posting
> service does us all a dis-service by not automatically quoting the
> earlier post when doing follow-ups, but it can be made to do so; could
> you do that in future?
He is referring to climbing on top of the scull I think.
>>the boat, tapped it 3 times on the top, manouevred out around the
> ... and in particular I've missed the earlier reference to tapping the
> boat on the top.
That is standard ARA safety procedure for the capsize drill IIRC.
You orientate yourself by tapping the upturned hull.
George Smith
The tapping the bottom of the boat is just to demonstrate that if you
capsize you won't immediately panic and have your wits around you - for what
it is worth.
Martin
"Jon Anderson" <j...@durge.org> wrote in message
news:d9u3fk$ia5$1...@heisenberg.grid-zero.net...
Edd
> I've got that uneasy feeling that someone is having a laugh here, at
> my expense. Like the guy at the party who asks about the rules for
> "Mornington Crescent". (Non-UK rowers give up trying to understand
> that bit). Where can I find this bottom-tapping stuff and is it for
> real? Or can someone explain to me why it's important; it sounds daft
> to me.
Oh yeah, like everyone else said it's for real, but just to clarify
one point - you aren't supposed to do this in anything other than the
drill.
--
Edd
Jon Anderson
> Oh yeah, like everyone else said it's for real, but just to clarify
> one point - you aren't supposed to do this in anything other than the
> drill.
Are we all being taught different things?
Edd
> Edd wrote:
> > Oh yeah, like everyone else said it's for real, but just to clarify
> > one point - you aren't supposed to do this in anything other than the
> > drill.
> Are we all being taught different things?
One would hope not.
--
Edd
Edd
> Edd wrote:
> > Oh yeah, like everyone else said it's for real, but just to clarify
> > one point - you aren't supposed to do this in anything other than the
> > drill.
> Are we all being taught different things?
One would hope not. Reading my notes it says 'This makes them stay
under long enough to become orientated and to remove feet from shoes
or clogs later'. In my experience when I fall out of a boat I'm pretty
much instantly orientated and know I'm upside down and would like to
get out. Once you know how to deal with a capsize situation I think
the tapping has served its purpose.
Another part of the notes says:
'In order to reduce the chance of panic it is necessary to train
participants to stay upside down underwater and think.
This is best done by the swimmer trying to hold himself in the
upturned boat, hands around the hull, tapping and counting. This
ability to think and keep calm allows controlled removal of the
particiant's feet from the shoes.'
I think the orientation thing is just badly worded.
--
Edd
Carl Douglas
Hold on! Where does this "controlled removal of the participant's feet
from the shoes" stuff come from?
Properly fitted restrained heels are self-releasing in _any_ emergency &
need no controlled removal. They should release immediately & without
intervention. If they do need controlled removal, then they are unfit
for use & the boat should not go afloat. Or the user has trussed their
feet so tightly into the shoes as the defeat the heel restraints - which
is down to folly or lack of safety training. Period.
If rowing shoes do need controlled removal, how are you going to do that
with both hands around the boat?
If inverted in cold water, staying inverted for any time does nothing
but injure your survival chances.
Yet more woolly ARA thinking over boat safety.
But as we know, although UK rowers spend their entire year on water
which is in survival terms "cold", the ARA knows absolutely nothing
about the requirements for cold-water immersion survival.
Henry Law
wrote:
>Its not to orientate yourself because you probably know you are under water.
>The tapping the bottom of the boat is just to demonstrate that if you
>capsize you won't immediately panic and have your wits around you - for what
>it is worth.
>Martin
>
>"Jon Anderson" <j...@durge.org> wrote in message
>news:d9u3fk$ia5$1...@heisenberg.grid-zero.net...
>> Henry Law wrote:
>>>>the boat, tapped it 3 times on the top, manouevred out around the
>>> ... and in particular I've missed the earlier reference to tapping the
>>> boat on the top.
>>
>> That is standard ARA safety procedure for the capsize drill IIRC.
>> You orientate yourself by tapping the upturned hull.
I've got that uneasy feeling that someone is having a laugh here, at
my expense. Like the guy at the party who asks about the rules for
"Mornington Crescent". (Non-UK rowers give up trying to understand
that bit). Where can I find this bottom-tapping stuff and is it for
real? Or can someone explain to me why it's important; it sounds daft
to me.
Phil
don't think anyone was suggesting that in a real capsize you follow
this procedure - 'tapping' etc is part of the drill to show that you
have control of the situation instead of just falling out & scrambling
to the surface.
Cheers,
Phil.
Henry Law
<eddedm...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Another part of the notes says:
>'In order to reduce the chance of panic it is necessary to train
>participants to stay upside down underwater and think.
OHHHHH .. I get it. It's tapping the bottom of the boat from the
*inside* (underwater). I imagined the sculler emerging from the
water, grabbing a quick breath, and then banging on the hull of the
upturned boat. It still sounds odd but I can at last see the logic.
Stephen Blockley
This whole sequence seems to be based on a misunderstanding of what causes
early disorientation when suddenly immersed, and how best to deal with it.
Having carried out a review of data, literature and recent research on the
subject in detail, it is my view that this is yet another example of how the
current ARA capsize drill is badly thought out, and possibly positively
dangerous.
Early disorientation on sudden immersion in cold water (ie water below 26.5
degrees C) is due to the 'Cold Shock' effect. This also has an effect on
your ability to breath hold, causing at first an involuntary gasp (indrawing
of breath) followed by a period of hyperventilation (rapid and disordered
breathing). The severity of these effects are proportional to reduction in
water temperature, and are maximal at 10 - 15 degrees C. The ability to
breath hold is reduced proportionally the colder the water.
Cold Shock lasts approx 1 - 3 minutes. During this time it is crucial for
the immersed rower to concentrate completely on trying to consciously breath
hold and to get his/her face out of the water before the involuntary gasp
takes over. If your mouth is underwater during your first gasp then you
will get a lungful of water instead of air and you will likely drown.
A feeling of panic during unexpected cold water immersion is inevitable and
largely physiological, and will not be reduced by one practice at 'staying
upside down underwater to think' while deliberately capsized in a warm
swimming pool. It is far better to expect to feel panic, know it is normal,
and that it will soon pass.
The ARA capsize drill pays no heed to the effects of the coldness of the
water - neither the Cold Shock effect, nor the need to avoid physical effort
as far as possible, and the need to get as much of the body out of the water
as soon as possible. Instead it encourages lingering in the water, moving
along the boat, righting the boat and towing the boat to the shore.
The early effects of local cooling of the limbs cause more fatalities than
true body core hypothermia. These effects can occur very soon after
immersion, and rapidly worsen the longer you are immersed. They include
reduced grip strength and manual dexterity, and reduced touch sensation.
This effect may severely hamper survival actions, such as clinging to the
boat, let alone trying to right it.
In my view the Capsize Drill needs complete review. We need to be teaching
and learning how best to cope with and survive the effects of cold water
immersion. Prevention is key, but once immersed there is still a lot you
can do to improve your chances. The current situation, where most people
have one go at capsizing a single in a warm swimming pool following the
questionable ritual laid down by the ARA, is better than nothing - but
evidently nowhere near good enough.
Jane Blockley
Henry Law
<stephenDO...@ukgateway.net> wrote:
>These effects can occur very soon after
>immersion, and rapidly worsen the longer you are immersed. They include
>reduced grip strength and manual dexterity, and reduced touch sensation.
>This effect may severely hamper survival actions, such as clinging to the
>boat, let alone trying to right it.
I can attest to this. Having spent less than ten minutes in the water
in May (and then another ten out of the water in the launch returning
to the pontoon) it was all I could do to lift my half of the pair we'd
turned over.
Stephen Blockley
> On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:27:12 +0100, "Stephen Blockley"
> <stephenDO...@ukgateway.net> wrote:
>
>> teaching and learning how best to cope with and survive the effects
>> of cold water immersion. Prevention is key, but once immersed there
>> is still a lot you can do to improve your chances. The current
>> situation, where most people have one go at capsizing a single in a
>> warm swimming pool following the questionable ritual laid down by
>> the ARA, is better than nothing - but evidently nowhere near good
>> enough.
>
> snip
Of course you are right that a training drill should not involve unnecessary
risk, so a capsize drill in realistic circumstances is out of the question.
So, we have to accept that capsizing a single in a warm swimming pool is, as
you say, the best we are likely to get. However, this process is only one
small part of what an individual rower needs to know in order to maximise
survival. Furthermore the misleading, falsely reassuring and unnecessary
elements of the current drill should be removed.
In the UK we must accept that most unplanned rower immersions will be in
water cold enough to have a significant effect on survival, and so we should
all carry in our heads a 'cold water survival check list' (a 'Highway Code'
for the water) which will give us the knowledge required to ensure we can
maximise our chances. This should be the main emphasis of a capsize drill.
Here's a go at such a list:
1) Try to prevent immersion in the first place (buoyant / safe well
maintained equipment, check weather forecast, collision avoidance
procedures, adequate lighting at night, knowledge of local hazards etc).
2) Understand how cold water immersion affects your physical and mental
abilities (cold shock, swimming failure, local and general affects of
hypothermia). Have a realistic idea of what you can achieve in such
circumstances.
3) Don't boat if if you are tired, ill, affected by alcohol or drugs,
hungry or thirsty - all these will hinder survival.
4) Dress appropriately, consider PFD. Remember 50% of body heat is lost
from your head if it is uncovered.
5) Before you boat, take a few moments to mentally question how you would
be rescued/self rescue given the circumstances of this particular outing.
Be prepared to adapt arrangements or cancel the outing if risk is too great.
6) If forced into the water try to control position of entry to avoid water
getting into the nose or throat.
7) During 'cold shock' concentrate on control of breathing and keeping the
mouth and nose out of the water - remember it will soon pass.
8) Hold onto something and get your body core out of the water as far as
possible, in the quickest and easiest possible way (eg by pulling out onto
the upturned hull - except that a non-buoyant 4 or 8 will not offer enough
support for this).
9) If you have been unable to get your body core out of the water keep
holding on to something, keep as still as possible and avoid unnecessary
manouvres.
10) Keep your back to the waves to avoid inhalation of water.
11) If wearing a PFD use HELP and Huddle techniques to conserve body heat.
12) Now take time to think through the best course of action in the
circumstances (depends on availability and timing of possible rescue by
others, the proximity of dry land, how easy it would be to get out onto the
bank, whether there are hazards nearby like a sluice or weir etc.)
13) Only swim as a last resort, and try to use something as a float.
Swimming is the least likely course of action to be successful.
14) Victims affected by the cold should be removed from the water
horizontally to avoid a drop in blood pressure leading to circulatory
collapse (not a 'surge' in blood pressure as stated in the ARA Capsize Drill
documents). They should also be handled with extreme care and gentleness,
as sudden movements may precipitate fatal heart rhythm disruption.
15) When out of the water victims affected by the cold should be made to
lie down, be wrapped up and kept still while awaiting transfer to hospital.
16) Victims who are shivering, but who are rational and showing no other
signs of hypothermia may just need removal of wet clothes, wrapping up and
keeping still in a warm environment until full recovery (any activity will
promote further body heat loss).
Once again the capsize drill training should be about equiping rowers to
maximise survival. With this in mind, the elements of the current capsize
drill which should be removed are:
1) Trying to right the boat.
2) Trying to rescue the boat (others can do that later).
3) Trying to train the rower to stay upside down in the water and think.
4) The idea that being in a warm pool is anything like being immersed in
cold water.
5) Getting the rower to swim to the bows.
6) The idea that swimming with the boat to the shore is anything but the
last resort in cold water.
7) The idea that panic is in any way voluntary in such circumstances as
unexpected cold water immersion. (Let's try not to blame the victim).
Jane and Stephen
Phil
members to be able to swim from our membership forms? It plants the
thought that swimming may be required - necessary even - when it should
be the plan of last resort (except in warm water).
Phil.
Henry Law
<stephenDO...@ukgateway.net> wrote:
>Here's a go at such a list:
>1)
Brilliant. Copied and saved to the hard drive. The ARA should
provide material like this as a poster for all boathouses.
Stephen Blockley
The ability to swim has obvious advantages, as although a last resort you
may need to rely upon it. Of equal importance is the psychological boost it
gives when you find yourself unexpectedly in the water.
However UK government drowning stats appear to show that for those who drown
in situations where swimming is possible, about as many swimmers drown as
non- swimmers. I would be wary of drawing any firm conclusions from this as
there are obviously many other variables involved, but it is food for
thought.
Many drownings occur within apparent 'easy' reach of safety - as in
Sikander's case. In the UK in 1977 55% of open water drownings were within
3 metres of safety and 42% within 2 metres (UK Home Office). In Canada
1991 - 2001 of those boating and drowned 41% were within 10 metres of the
shore, and a further 22% were within 10 - 15 metres of the shore (Canadian
Safe Boating Council / Smart risk survey).
As has been discussed here before, one's ability to swim and stay afloat in
warm water actually bears no relationship to your ability to swim in cold
water. Swimming failure is thought to be due to local cooling of limb
muscles, and is not prevented by the use of a PFD.
Jane
donal...@gmail.com
At the pool with swimming floating is a signficant part of training.
Some kids seem to do this with commsumate ease perhaps not indefinitely
but certainly for long periods whereas others require signficant
amounts of propulsion to maintain flotation.
Should this also be looked at in terms of actions to take when in cold
water? ie looking for a safe position rather than struggling with cold
and associated cramps? Is ones ability to float reduced as the water
temperature reduces(ie the physics of cold water)?
Should one be looking not to swim but initially to float and allow ones
body to become accustomed to the cold prior to attempting to swim? Is
it immediate impulsive action when a warm body suddenly becomes
immersed in cold which creates the cramps and would temporary
inaction/acclimatisation to the altered environment assist?
What is it that people that do regular cold water swims do which
enables them to safely negotiate the water?
Whereas I appreciate one wants to get out of the water quickly are
there ADVANTAGES in relaxing in the environment prior to making ones
attempt?
Regards
Donal
Stephen Blockley
> Should one be looking not to swim but initially to float and allow
> ones body to become accustomed to the cold prior to attempting to
> swim? Is it immediate impulsive action when a warm body suddenly
> becomes immersed in cold which creates the cramps and would temporary
> inaction/acclimatisation to the altered environment assist?
Unfortunately the adverse effects of cold on the ability to swim become
worse the longer you are in the water. It is not the effect of sudden
temperature change which causes swimming failure, but rather it is thought
to be the effect of progressive cooling of the muscles.
Different people are affected by swimming failure to varying degrees - some
are affected very rapidly, while others may be able to swim reasonable
distances before the effects take hold. In one experiment the significant
factor seemed to be upper arm skinfold thickness. The more insulation
around the muscles, the warmer and more efficient they remain.
Any movement of the limbs, be it swimming or just treading water whilst
clinging to something, will hasten the onset of body core hypothermia. Any
movement of muscle draws more warm blood from the body core and sends cooled
blood back. Thus the best survival position is to keep as still as
possible - unfortunately in reality this is only possible if wearing a PFD.
> What is it that people that do regular cold water swims do which
> enables them to safely negotiate the water?
It is widely believed that regular cold water immersion can in some way
'acclimatise' you to the conditions. I have been unable to find any
scientifically established explanation of the mechanism involved, but we do
know that cold acclimatisation takes a long time (much longer than heat
acclimatisation) and still does not protect you from significantly low
temperatures, or the eventual (though hopefully delayed) onset of local and
body core hypothermia.
It seems that you would have to undergo cold water immersion 3 - 4 times a
week, every week for several months to eventually notice any advantage. I
think there are two aspects to the adjustment. Firstly there is the
psychological effect e.g. I suspect that with practice you would become more
used to coping with cold shock, and you would be able to control breathing
better. Secondly there is the physical effect of maintaining body core
temperature a little longer than normal. Apparently regular cold exposure
encourages the deposition of subcutaneous fat, and this may be one
mechanism - a layer of insulating fat around the muscles.
> Whereas I appreciate one wants to get out of the water quickly are
> there ADVANTAGES in relaxing in the environment prior to making ones
> attempt?
>
I think only for as long as it takes to work out what your options are, and
which is the most likely to succeed.
Jane
donal...@gmail.com
Donal
donal...@gmail.com
tragic situation, I do wonder whether it is an error to overlook the
psychology of people when looking at potential disaster situations. At
any given level of ability there is no doubt that some people react
well and in a procedurally sound fashion having been given a set of
instructions and information to follow - others do not. Quite often one
will know people that you would be worried about in potential disaster
situations. Ive written before about someone I knew of who reacted as
everyone expected he would do - ie poorly. Personally I think coaching
and any drills should also be looking to identify broad psychological
traits so that assistance can be given to helping those who may
naturally throw out all they have been taught in a moment of panic and
assist them through additional practise to gain the confidence required
to have a better chance in a situation. The person Im thinking of is 40
and its unlikely that his handling of situations will improve (leopards
new spots etc) - children and young adults one would hope are malleable
enough to be guided. Its not that panic is voluntary its more that most
of the suggested drills are in controlled environments and its no bad
thing to try and identify those who may lose sight of the broader
picture in an uncontrolled situation.
Identification can take place in any situation. In the rowing
environment for instance, with novice rowers Im sure we all will have
come across those that act cooly after having caught a crab/come off
their seat/clashed blades. Also there will be people that panic.
I would contend that displays in such benign situations would hint as
to potential reactions in rather more serious situations and perhaps
the way in which these people react in a capsize drill be looked at
more critically and perhaps offer these people more practise if the
coach is not confident either about how the drill was performed or how
someone MAY react (rather than just ticking a health and safety box for
the club suggesting that a capsize drill and swim test has been taken
which is I suspect the generality of these things in reality - ie a
test to get out of the way en route to getting people on the water
rather than a truly worthy use of time)?
Personally I liked the idea espoused in an earlier thread about having
half a dozen guys in wetsuits in the water randomly tipping scullers in
to (possibly cold water) and seeing how they react in that situation.
Certainly the canoeists at our club seem to take dunking as something
to relish and be done as often as possible with the kids whereas rowing
is considered a dry sport.
Oh for info my kids enjoyed the capsize drill we did in the river
recently a lot and have actually asked to do it again rather than
actually going sculling!
Donal