ABL-5 AbleSafety Instructors: George Crowl

Course Outline  a. Develop and use a customized vessel safety checklist for a boat used by your ship.  b. Demonstrate your understanding of fire prevention on vessels.  c. Know the classes of fires and the substances that will extinguish each class of fire.  d. In a safe place, under adult supervision, demonstrate your ability to extinguish a Class A and a Class B fire with an approved fire extinguisher. See that the fire extinguisher used is properly recharged or replaced.

Course Outline  e. Conduct a fire safety inspection of the vessel normally used by your ship or of your ship's meeting place. Note any fire hazards and report them to your ship's adult leaders.  f. Complete the American Red Cross Standard First Aid Course.  g. Obtain CPR certification from a certified agency.  h. Demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver and tell when it is used.

ABL-5a a. Develop and use a customized vessel safety checklist for a boat used by your ship.

Vessel Safety Checklist  Every Sea Scout vessel should have its own  Nearly every Sea Scout vessel is different, meaning each checklist is different  Start with Vessel Safety Check checklist  Add BSA specific items that are required

Vessel Operations Checklist  Pre-sailing, post-sailing, equipment operation  Scouts usually don't sail a given boat that often  Checklists remind them of every step needed  They are a safety aid  Aircrew who fly nearly every day use their checklists, Sea Scouts who sail a particular boat maybe 4-6 times a years should use theirs.

ABL-5b Demonstrate your understanding of fire prevention on vessels

Galley  Most common source of fires  Can't see flame on alcohol stoves  Propane may pop or leak  Grease will catch on fire  Turn off stove and fuel  Use fire extinguisher at hand in galley area

Electrical  Prevention is best. Don't jury-rig wiring.  Insure right size  Check it regularly, especially around the engine  Nothing in contact with wiring and connectors except insulation and holders  If you smell insulation or wiring, shut down your electrical system and find the problem

Gasoline Engines  Sea Scouts still have some!  Backfire flame arrestors are mandatory  Open hatches and run blower five minutes before starting  Fumes do accumulate in engine compartment  Several boats blow up each year from gasoline fumes

Diesel Engines  Much less likely to blow up  Worn fuel line will spill fuel  Hot engine will set it off  Keep engine compartment clean, check it

Fueling the Boat  Engine off, no open flames, passengers off, hatches closed, portable tanks off the boat  Metal-to-metal contact prevents sparks  Correct fuel tank, listen to sounds, no overfill  Prevent spills, spill cleanup material on hand  Ventilate the boat, use blower, check for fumes

Miscellaneous  Don't store gasoline below decks  Propane lockers ventilate to outside  Keep charcoal dry  Oily rags can spontaneously combust  Paint, solvents, grease and oil off the boat, or if not possible, in a metal locker  Know where your flares / emergency equipment are stored and how to get into them

ABL-5c Know the classes of fires and the substances that will extinguish each type of fire

Fire Triangle  Must have heat, fuel and oxygen for fire  Remove any one, fire goes out  Usually, sweep extinguisher side to side, aim at base of flames  Move closer if safely able

Class A Fire  Wood, fabric, paper, trash  Put out with water, foam, or powder  Use Type A extinguisher:  ABC powder – on most boats  A water – pressurized or soda-acid  A water – backpack pump

Class B Fire  Gas, diesel, grease, etc.  Water spreads the fire  Cut off the oxygen  Use Type B fire extinguisher  ABC dry chemical on boats  B foam  BC carbon dioxide on larger boats  BC Halon on large boats

Class C Fire  Electrical – live circuit, insulation, etc.  Never water – conducts electricity  Cut power to the fire  Use Type C fire extinguisher  ABC dry chemical on boat  BC carbon dioxide  BC Halon

Fire Extinguishing Agents (1)  Water – (A) Acts by cooling the fire  Foam – (AB) Acts by cooling and cutting off oxygen. Foam blankets fuel, cuts off flammable vapors from the air.  Dry chemical – (ABC) Knocks down flames, cuts off air. Some cooling with powder. Often corrosive.

Fire Extinguishing Agents (2)  Halon – (ABC) Denies oxygen, smothers fire. Designed for electrical fires. New is Halotron.  Carbon Dioxide – (C + A/B) Denies oxygen, smothers fire. Gas displaces air. Can smother a person as well. Most effective on small fires in enclosed spaces.

ABL-5d In a safe place, under adult supervision, demonstrate your ability to extinguish a class A and a class B fire with an approved fire extinguisher. See that the fire extinguisher used is properly recharged or replaced.

Two Fires  Trash fire – use water extinguisher  Just put out a little bit, leave the rest for the next person!  Diesel fire – use dry chemical extinguisher  Put it all out, we will re-start it  Follow procedure

P A S S  PULL – Pull the locking pin at the top  AIM – Aim the hose at the base of the flames  SQUEEZE – Squeeze the handle  SWEEP – Sweep the hose side to side while aiming at the base of the flames

Do the Exercise  Go do P A S S !

ABL-5e Conduct a fire safety inspection of the vessel normally used by your ship or of your ship’s meeting place. Note any fire hazards and report them to your ship’s adult leaders.

Inspect Your Vessel  Use part 5b as a guide for your inspection  Check housekeeping – flammables, liquids, etc.  Write discrepancies down  Follow up

Inspect Your Meeting Room  Two exits  Doors open outward  No flames except in kitchen  Fire extinguishers  No hazardous storage  Adult responsibility to work with building owner to address any issues

ABL-5f Complete the American Red Cross Standard First Aid course. Contact your local American Red Cross office. Some councils have Venturing crews or other units that specialize in ARC training.

ABL-5g Obtain CPR certification from a certified agency. Contact your local American Red Cross office or American Heart Association provider. Some councils have Venturing crews or other units that specialize in ARC training.

ABL-5h Demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver and tell when it is used.

When to Use Heimlich Maneuver  Choking  Conscious  Can't breath  May have hands around neck  Encourage coughing  Next – hard slaps on back  If no success – use Heimlich maneuver  If breathing in any way, don't use Heimlich

Heimlich Maneuver  1. Have victime stand  2. Arms around victim at waist  3. Make a fist, thumb toward victim  4. Grab fist with other hand, make 4-5 squeeze thrusts into abdomen, forcing air out of lungs  5. Repeat until dislodged

Questions? 