Sea Survival and Rescue of Totally Enclosed Lifeboat

Learn first aid and read the manual about hypothermia. You can save your partner in danger!

 

1. Boarding of injured persons

 

1) Before evacuation, try to provide on-site first aid to the wounded on the mother ship. Because of the small space on the totally enclosed lifeboat, there is not enough equipment to rescue the seriously injured.

 

2) When boarding, the injured should be taken aboard first. Stretchers should be laid on the seat rows (forward) and lashed down with the belts. If there are no seats available for this, a stretcher can be placed in the laps of uninjured persons who should then hold it in place.

 

3) Remember that

① Injured persons should if possible be placed on seat rows with their backs to the ship’s side ( reduces shocks during lowering and when the boat is rolling).

② Unconscious persons must lie on their sides, either on a stretcher, on seat rows, or on people’s laps.

③ All persons including the injured must be strapped in during lowering and while at sea.

④ Seriously injured persons must be kept under observation.

 

4) Remember in particular

① Breathing passages must be kept open.  Remove any vomit from the mouth and throat.

② Check the pulse.  Use artificial respiration and/or heart compression if necessary.

③ Stop any bleeding. If possible keep the site of bleeding higher than the rest of the body.  Use clean bandages for compression.

④ Avoid abnormal cold and heat.

 

2. Frostbite & hypothermia

 

1) In cold waters cold is the greatest threat to survival. The construction of the fully enclosed lifeboat gives considerable insulation against cold. When the hatches are kept closed, the running of the engine and the body heat of those on board will generate much heat which will help to keep the temperature up.

 

2) As long as the engine is running it will take care of air circulation.  When the engine is stopped ensure adequate fresh air and maintaining heat in the boat by opening/closing either or both the topside hatch and aft corner hatch. The forehatch must only be used in good weather. Side hatches must be kept closed.

 

3) Try to avoid local frostbite on hands, feet, and face. Once frostbite, apply a dry cloth to protect it. Cold hands and feet can be warmed on the abdomen of the shipmate, but don't rub them to avoid bruising and infection.

 

Remember that a frostbitten part of the body is easily injured, and should therefore be protected against knocks and pressure.

 

4) If the water temperature is lower than 33°C and the person falling into the water does not have cold protection clothes, the body temperature must drop. When the sea temperature is below 25 degrees, hypothermia occurs almost immediately.

 

Please note: In any shipwreck situation people who have become wet or who have fallen in the water must be treated for hypothermia immediately.

 

5) For patients with hypothermia, the outstanding danger is that the patient becomes depressed and loses confidence in survival. At 34°C, the feeling of cold gradually replaces the feeling of warmth and comfort. At 32°C, the person loses consciousness.

 

6) In general, someone suffering from hypothermia should be treated as follows:

 

① If possible replace their wet clothing with dry clothing. Put dry clothing next to the body and wring out wet clothes before putting them on the top of the fully enclosed lifeboat.

 

② Put on an immersion suit or thermal bag (thermal protective aid) and keep the patient lying quietly.

 

③ If necessary, the body of a healthy person can be used to keep the patient warm. Example: The same in the same insulation bag.

 

④ Never give the patient alcohol (only warm or hot water, soup, etc.).

 

3. Rescuing survivors from the sea

 

Rescuing someone from the sea is difficult and can be dangerous both for the person in the water and those in the totally enclosed lifeboat. Training is necessary for a successful operation.

 

As mentioned earlier, people in the sea may be injured when they jump into the water, and water may be poured into their lungs. In addition, his body temperature must be too low.

 

Normal pick-up procedure

 

1) The coxswain first asks the person who fell into the water, which side he hoped to pick up.

 

2) People occupying seats by the side hatch in question are moved. Two persons take up positions at the hatch opening.

 

3) The enclosed lifeboat is maneuvered gently from leeward to windward. When the boat heads 1.5 meters past the drowning person, hit the rudder in the direction of the drowning person. After stabilizing the boat, place the main engine manipulator handle in neutral. The wind will blow the boat towards the person.

 

4) If possible, the person in the sea should immediately be secured with a line or similar.

 

5) Lift the person into the boat through the side hatch. If the person in the water cannot be dragged into the boat from the side door, the rescue can be accomplished by means of the boat roll.

 

6) After saving the person, immediately close the boat door and report to the captain.

 

7) The rescued person should lie down in the boat with his legs raised. This is true even for sentient people. After being rescued, people who fell into the water are prone to sudden high blood pressure. This is caused by the sudden loss of the static pressure of the water. If the person who has just been rescued is allowed to stand, sudden death may occur.

 

8) The person rescued is then treated as described in the section on injured persons (in particular read the passage on hypothermia).

 

4. Being rescued from the enclosed lifeboat

 

1) Pick-up from the lifeboat to helicopter

 

When personnel is evacuated from the totally enclosed lifeboat, the key is to observe discipline and obey commands. The entire rescue process is controlled by a helicopter.

 

If the helicopter sends down its own rescuer, he is in charge of everything that goes on in the lifeboat. Otherwise, the coxswain is in command. 

 

If there is a radio link with the helicopter, the rescue order is issued by the helicopter. The injured person is generally lifted first. In the case of serious casualties or inconvenient communication, an uninjured person can be sent to the helicopter to arrange stretchers and other rescue work.

 

The following procedure should be observed:

 

① For reasons of stability and security, no one should go up on the roof of the fully enclosed lifeboat. Everyone must sit in the lifeboat until told otherwise. Lifejackets and immersion suits should be worn.

 

② The enclosed lifeboat should be kept heading into the wind as far as possible. The helicopter will move towards the lifeboat, and the boat should not be allowed to approach the helicopter.

 

③ The life-saving harness is released downward through the control rope and the heavy hammer. Note: The lifebelt can only be touched after the heavy hammer is immersed in the sea to prevent static electricity from hitting people. The heavy hammer must be immersed in water at all times. The control rope is never allowed to be tied to the lifeboat.

 

④ When the sling is placed on the deck, someone needs to grab the lifeline at the door of the boat and pull the lifebelt into the boat. Note: Disconnect the gearbox to prevent the control rope from getting entangled in the propeller.

 

⑤ The transferred person was seated at the door, and another person helped to fasten the sling according to the following procedure.

 

• Hold the sling.

 

• Put one arm through the noose of the harness. Slide the harness over your head and one shoulder. Then put the other arm through and slide the harness over the other shoulder.

 

• Keep the sling on the back. Ensure that the sling is wrapped around the life jacket, and check whether the sling and hoist ring are wrapped around the sling tightly.

 

⑥ The transferred person stood outside the cabin door and issued a hoisting signal.

 

⑦ The person being rescued should remain completely no move until onboard the helicopter.

 

2) Pick-up from the enclosed lifeboat to another vessel

 

Any transfer of persons from a lifeboat to another vessel can involve the risk of injuries.

 

If the totally enclosed lifeboat is undamaged and those on board uninjured, it will be safe to remain in the lifeboat.

 

In severe weather, it should therefore be evaluated whether to postpone transferring people until the operation can be carried out under safer conditions.

 

Transferring requires high standards of discipline. General precautions are:

 

① One person must be in command. No one should do anything without clear instructions.

 

② Never stand on the roof of the fully enclosed lifeboat (not even during drills). Remain seated and secured until told otherwise.

 

③ Keep the hatches closed at all times, apart from during the actual evacuation. Never have both side hatches open at once.

 

④ Remember that freeboard and stability are reduced when people are moved over to the evacuation side where the hatch is open.