3 point platform for rescue water craft standards of operation
1 like402 views
This document outlines a 3-point platform for standards of operation for rescue water craft (RWC). The 3 points are: 1) Maintaining proper balance, trim, and hull positioning; 2) Effective throttle modulation and helm control; 3) Effectively reading water and weather conditions. It emphasizes the importance of understanding water dynamics, craft handling, body placement, and situational awareness. The platform is intended to merge these operational elements into safe and effective forward movement. Case studies and training photos from K38 Water Safety are provided.
3 point platform for rescue water craft standards of operation
- 1. 3 Point Platform for RWC Standards of Operation – K38 2013 3 Point Platform for Rescue Water Craft Standards of Operation By Shawn Alladio K38 student in Long View, Washington 2012 “Our PWC community is reliant on the element of water. Yet few in our industry appreciate this resource and practically nobody has taken the time to grasp the value and dynamics of water, the fluid flow we use as buoyant traction for our Personal Watercraft! I have a saying ‘if you can’t define it you can’t own it. Our industry needs to first understand this element and how its application applies to our need for speed and safety.” “As a worldwide subject matter expert", let me take you into the basic language and principal guiding forces that control our methodology, yet few comprehend how to incorporate this into ‘forward movement. These are the fundamental basics for RWC Standards of Operation. K38 Students in Long View, Washington conducting Operator/Rescuer Surf Passages 1
- 2. 3 Point Platform for RWC Standards of Operation – K38 2013 Take a look at the total mass of a PWC. A 3 personal water craft, weighing in fully loaded at approximately 1,000 lbs. with rider on board, wet gear, and then add speed into the equation. There are three elements that apply to traction. Apply the dynamic related to movement: Centrifugal Force. Then add pump efficiency and hydrodynamic thrust. Depending upon the volume of water exiting through the steering nozzle approximately 4,000 to 6,000 lbs. of pressure per square inch can be exerted. This is going to be determined upon 3 elements reasoned by the operator (or a PWC racer). K38 students at Long View, Washington conduct training evolutions for securing a stop 3 POINT PLATFORM (STANDARD) 1. 1. Balance points and trim of the watercraft of the centerline or keel of the vessel. Essentially the operator needs to apply positive body trim points to keep that pump loaded and the hull centered or the keel will lose its draft and craft handling inefficiency is experienced 2. 2. Helm control and effective throttle modulation. An operator needs to know how to apply proper throttle control with their body placement and trim of their vessel with directional changes underway. We refer to this as throttle modulation. It is dependent upon vessel contact with water/pump, body placement and stability of craft, direction of travel, pitch of the boat (bow up/down). You must understand your centered body placement and the equal weight distribution of your craft underway. This plays very important when you layer the user of a rescue board or additional POB (persons on board) 3. 3. Effectively reading the water and weather conditions while underway. This means each directional (bow) change underway you have to adjust ‘in advance’, not in the second of. Did you realize you are driving your boat from the stern? Do you know what the stern is? You thought you were driving the boat from the bow, in front of you didn’t you? Wrong! Your throttle modulation is at your helm station (handlebars), your body is seated in the center point over the heaviest section where the motor is set (center of craft weight heavy), but the response is behind your seated or standing position on your craft. Fuel is a consumable weight trim resources, keep that in mind. 2
- 3. 3 Point Platform for RWC Standards of Operation – K38 2013 K38 Lead Instructor monitors safety at Long View, Washington during training evolutions I can see people coming (off their boats) before they even know they are going to eject themselves, or flip the boat forcing a capsize or land hard off center. And then what? Blame the buoy, blame the wave, blame the spray, blame your boat, blame someone else, when most often it is the risk you employ without realizing the results. It’s not easy to self-evaluate from a constructive position. It helps to ask others to pass on their observations and insights. We should strive for a level of excellence and not the regular status quo. If we continue to push and drive for clear capabilities and technical advantages we will not need to wait for a mishap evaluation to teach us how to be leaders and innovators of our trade: lifesaving. K38 student at Long View, Washington demonstrates proper situational awareness while underway 3
- 4. 3 Point Platform for RWC Standards of Operation – K38 2013 Develop your operations with a professional mindset of effectively understanding the basics of the 3 key foundations to RWC standards. When you train, practice merging these three operational needs into a fluid forward movement. Be willing to receive and give criticism of your training applications. Review and constantly adjust, but most importantly, teach yourself how to define what it is you are doing! K38 students at Ilwaco, Washington learn slow speed technical handling with weight on board If you are unwilling to define your actions or have not been taught the benefits of definitions and their advantages through action, you will be resisting progress and reduce your capabilities to excel. We owe it to ourselves, our life, our community and our colleagues to give our very best, to engage in professional development and to avoid hubris at the expense of self-awareness and safety. South Pacific County Technical Rescue Update: This is a first-hand account of the other side of the rescue last Saturday (2012). Yes these ocean currents are dangerous!! Last Sunday, I was wading with 5 girls of our group when I heard and saw two young girls about 50 feet further out. "Help, she cannot swim". I was up to my waist and was taller than them. I waded deeper, then took a few strokes and was with them. But the waves were crashing, pulling us out further. Since I could see them from where I had stood, they must have been near a deep spot where the waves were not crashing. For whatever reason, the current there was probably pulling seaward. Once in the surf, the waves would curl over us, then the backwash would pull us out further, and I could see I would be no help in pulling them in. The girl's dad soon joined us, as did a high school swimmer. I did not know there was a beach rescue coming, I really thought the only option was for us to somehow swim in and that was not working. I took off from the girls to try and make the beach, but I am a weak swimmer and made absolutely no head way. I exhausted myself completely. I did not know that help would soon arrive. Rescue arrived in the form of your sea-doo rescue guy. Without that, I am certain that at least four of us would not have made it, as the dad was also completely exhausted. 4
- 5. 3 Point Platform for RWC Standards of Operation – K38 2013 It was lucky that a beach ranger walked by our beach group, none of our group knew that calling 911 worked for beach rescue. So… my heart is out and my hat is off to the rescue crew, and whomever in the city sets that up and makes it work. My kids were almost without a dad...at least 3 others, maybe 4 would have... well.. Of course I keep racking my brain to think what the proper action would have been in the situation. Run back to the beach to call for help? By then they may have been gone, and maybe the sand was not so deep where they were, who could know? Run back, call for help, get a floating device of some sort (?), go out and float with the girls until help arrived would be the choice I would make if I were to do it again. I really learned my limit. I guess I knew it, but was fooling myself about my swimming ability, my ability to handle a surf situation. Once again; my deepest gratitude to all of you. __________________________________________________ _ Please visit the Facebook page for South Pacific County Technical Rescue http://www.facebook.com/spctrescue ####### USCG STAN Team instructors, Shawn Alladio and Doug Knutzen from SPCTR, Washington 2012 About: Shawn Alladio-K38 Water Safety's training programs evolved over the past 24 years; and currently enjoy support with 12 International K38 affiliates. Along with a cadre of professional NSBC boating safety instructors, K38 teaches Personal Watercraft and Rescue Water Craft courses in swiftwater rescue, big wave safety, PWC competitions, flood, open water, surf and disaster management for occupational lifesavers. Www.K38Watersafety.com 5