1. 2014 Safety Meeting Minnesota Boat Club

2. Agenda: Preparation Safety Equipment Traffic Pattern and River Review. Barges and Boats Coping with Conditions Rowing injuries Emergency situations Reporting Final Questions, Resources.

3. Preparation Waivers and emergency contacts filed Pre-participation medical evaluation Proper clothing and shoes. Assess weather and river conditions Make sure you are competent for the row you intend to do with the conditions you have. – Do you need a launch? Identify a boat appropriate for your crew. – (weight, skill level, ownership) Identify chain of command if indicated Assess equipment and modify if necessary. Sign out in the log. Go Rowing!

4. Safety Equipment at MBC Log book Throwing ring Lights for dark rowing Ropes Oars PFDs Telephone Fire extinguishers First Aid Kit Launches (Smartphones!) Rowing Safety 101

5. Personal Flotation Devices In a rowing shell on USGC-designated navigable water (ie the Mississippi River) a PFD is not required for rowing. PFDs may still be a good idea for some rowers, eg: – Single scullers with no launch. – Cold water conditions!!! On lakes, MN law prevails, you are legally required to have a PFD with you in the boat, – the DNR recommends wearing it. Launches must have a throwable floatation device. (ring or cushion) and must have accessible PFDs for each passenger. Launches should have a PFD for each rower under their supervision. Launch drivers should ideally WEAR their PFDs. Our good safety practices help prevent further rules, future rowers could be required to have/wear PFDs.

6. Traffic Pattern The traffic pattern is basically stay to the right side or in our terms: stay closer to the starboard shore. Passing boats should pass towards the center of the river if possible. You may NEED to deviate from traffic pattern if conditions mandate but with EXTREME caution. – Eg. to avoid a barge – With high/low water conditions

7. Course map http://tinyurl.com/MNBoatClubMap Where do most accidents happen? What should you watch out for? What dangers can you anticipate? Where are trouble spots on the river? Which arches may be used at the railroad bridge? Where do barges park? When should I turn to dock properly?

8. http://tinyurl.com/MNBoatClubMap STANDING WAVES! FAST CURRENT! WATER PIPE FLOW! Shallow entrance! Parked Barges!

9. http://tinyurl.com/MNBoatClubMap WING DAMS! BRIDGE!

10. Omaha Railroad Bridge (usual) BARGE!

11. http://tinyurl.com/MNBoatClubMap BRIDGE!

12. http://tinyurl.com/MNBoatClubMap

13. What’s wrong with this picture?

15. Barges and Boats You can see them. They may not see you. – This is worse if you are in front of them and too close. – They can’t see around corners – Barges CAN’T stop! Motor Boats may or may not slow down when passing. Be prepared for wakes. The area near Marina and between Wabasha and Smith Ave is “No Wake” (that means us too!) Horns express where they want you. – 1 blast: “PORT” – 2 blasts: “STAR—BOARD” – 5 blasts: “This is a SERIOUS safety problem”

16. Horn Signals

17. Coping with conditions Lightning- a reason to not row. Fog – sometimes a reason to not row (if visibility is limited). Darkness – Lights are required BY LAW Heat – take specific precautions, careful with high heat index. Cold – sometimes a reason not to row: – Danger if water at 60˚F or below, or air+water temp <120˚F – Rowing restrictions at 50˚F or below, air+water temp <90˚F – http://tinyurl.com/coldwatersafety http://tinyurl.com/coldwatersafety – Water Temp: http://tinyurl.com/WaterTempLock1http://tinyurl.com/WaterTempLock1 Wind – sometimes a reason to not row: High water – sometimes a reason to not row: http://tinyurl.com/waterlevelstp http://tinyurl.com/waterlevelstp – Special danger spots: DOCK, RR bridge, Below Wabasha Low water – unique dangers: be aware!

18. Four Oars Rule A common restriction is the “four oars” rule: – The theory is that with four or more oars on the water, the likelihood of flipping is greatly reduced. – This keeps singles and pairs off the water. – 2x, 4-, 4+, 4x, 8+ may row with 4-oar rule – Other conditions/exceptions may be also be added, including: Experience levels Launch requirement PFDs Location limitations

19. Cold Water Conditions When water + air temperature < 90 ˚F cold weather rules go into effect. OR Water temperature less than 50 ˚F – For example, if the water is 54 degrees and the air is 35 degrees, – Or if water is 49 degrees and air is 55 degrees – If the water gets below 50 degrees, survival time is probably not long enough for a rescue and precautions must be taken. When the water temperature is 50 degrees the “four oars” rule goes into effect AND rowers must have one of the following: – a safety launch following with all the safety supplies; – must wear an inflatable life jacket; – must wear a neoprene suit. Not only do the rowers have to have four oars, they also need other gear to help them survive a cold plunge! It can stop your heart!

20. Common Rowing Ailments Slide bite, Blisters – Cool the area, can use tape – Clean slide bites and keep covered Strains and pulls Back injuries Cramps Dehydration

21. Emergency situations Stay with your boat if you are in the water and there is no other help. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM You will lose heat rapidly in water. If you think you might need help you probably do. Activate EMS if it might be necessary. Inform the captain and file a report about what happened and how, if there is anything to prevent this in the future etc. REPORTING FORM: – http://tinyurl.com/MBCsafety

22. Severe injuries and events Any Severe injuries – CALL 911!! Closed head injuries, concussions Drowning Penetrating trauma, collisions/prop blades Cardiac Arrest Electrocution (lightning) Heat Stroke Hypothermia Hydrocarbon inhalation (gas fumes) Long bone fracture People interested in getting CPR certified this spring please sign up (just interest, not a commitment) Still available!

23. Reporting Reporting problems is important because we need to improve our procedures NOT because we want to assign blame. In some cases reports are required by federal law. The boat club will be involved in this so tell us. This is required when, as a result of an occurrence that involves a boat or its equipment: – A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid – Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 (lower amounts in some states and territories) or more – The boat is destroyed. – A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury – A person dies

24. Equipment Maintenance Please report damage! – Including wear and tear! DO NOT just write on the whiteboard! Email: – MNBoatclubCaptain@gmail.com MNBoatclubCaptain@gmail.com – rssiw1@gmail.com Reporting FORM: – http://tinyurl.com/MBCdamage

25. Questions? Thanks for coming. Join the safety committee (please!) For more information: – http://www.usrowing.org/Safety/SafetyGuidelines.asp x http://www.usrowing.org/Safety/SafetyGuidelines.asp x – http://tinyurl.com/FISAsafety – http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/default.aspx – http://www.americancanoe.org/?page=Top_10 – Water Level: http://tinyurl.com/waterlevelstp – Water Temp: http://tinyurl.com/WaterTempLock1