Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

◆ A basic first-aid manual
◆ Antiseptic ointment
◆ Rubbing alcohol
◆ An assortment of bandages, gauze pads, and tape
◆ Tweezers
◆ Sunburn lotion
◆ Aspirin and other over-the-counter pain medications
◆ Pepto-Bismol or other diarrhea treatments
◆ Eye-drops such as Visine
◆ Plastic gloves and antiseptic soap
Chapter 19: Common Emergencies (If There Are Such Things)
It’s also wise for you, as skipper, to take a first-aid course that includes basic CPR and the
Heimlich Maneuver to aid choking victims.
Person Overboard!
261
One of the most common potential emergencies is one of your crew going over the side.
It happens sooner or later to just about everybody who spends a lot of time on the water,
and whether or not it becomes an emergency depends on the conditions.
A fall from an anchored boat into calm water in the middle of a Georgia summer day by a
good swimmer is an amusement, not an emergency. Give the swimmer a hand getting
back aboard and no harm done. But falling off a sailboat during a fast downwind leg on a
chilly fall evening in Maine when you’re dressed heavily to keep out the cold can be
deadly serious. Without fast action, it can become a tragedy.
Here are the steps in bringing someone safely back aboard:
1. Don’t lose sight of the victim. If you can’t find him, he’s going to have to tread water a
lot longer—maybe too long. Consequently, it’s best if one crewperson does nothing
but keep an eye on the swimmer, pointing at him steadily from the bow so the
helmsperson knows where to steer for the recovery.
2. Shut off the power immediately if there’s any danger of the prop striking the swimmer. If
you’re on a sailboat, turn the boat into the wind to stop the forward motion. (There
has to be some hasty sail handling here, to be sure, if the spinnaker is set.)
3. If the person is within throwing range, toss a life ring or flotation cushion to him. (If there’s
wind or a current, be sure to toss it on the upwind or up-current side so it drifts
down to the person.)