bob pratt & david benjamin "great lakes surf rescue" ndpa symposium 2012
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TRANSCRIPT
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
Bob Pratt
Dave Benjamin
How We Began:
Old Traditions
New Technology
2 MAIN GOALS Quantify the
scope of the
problem.
Train people to
recognize and
respond to drowning
incidents.
The Great Lakes
5 Lakes
8 States
2 Countries
10,000 Miles of
shoreline.
21% of the worlds fresh
water.
Preliminary Research Nationwide:
~35 per year (Gensini and Ashley 2009)
>100 per year (U.S.L.A.)
~150 per year (Lushine 1991)
Great Lakes:
~8 per year (Guenther 2008)
~33 per year (Guenther 2010)
There is universal agreement in need for
further research.
Problems With Data Collection
Terminology: drowning, near-drowning,
rip current, rip tide, undertow, tombolo.
Cause of Death: ICD-10 codes.
Until we get a universal definition of terminology,
accurate meteorological data and until we get ICD
codes with better parameters; we will not have truly
‘scientific’ data.
The media is only a starting point but maybe the best
and most accurate source we have at this time.
RESULTS
2010 75 Total Drownings
38 in Lake Michigan 50.6%
32 ‘rip currents’ 42.6%
2011 87 Total Drownings
42 in Lake Michigan 48.2%
19 ‘Rip Currents’ 21.8%
Clearly there is a significant problem. We
cannot wait until the scientific community
quantifies the problem more accurately or
agrees on the ‘real’ scope of the issue.
WHERE TO START?
We do not need to wait for the scientists to
agree, nor do we need to reinvent the wheel.
Similarities
The Fire Problem: 5th
Leading Cause of Death.
• Education
• Code Enforcement
• Emergency Response
The Drowning Problem: 4th
Leading Cause of Death.
• Education
• Engineering
• Emergency Response
Solutions
The
DIFFERENCE?
The fire service has thousands of full-time and volunteer
advocates in a well established, highly organized and well
funded network. Most Fire Departments have a whole
division devoted to fire prevention activities. We visit schools,
hold picnics and teach kids to “Stop, Drop & Roll”.
We need to get organized, networked and FUNDED.
WHERE TO START?
"Begin at the beginning," the King said, gravely, "and go on till
you come to the end; then stop."
- Alice in Wonderland
WHY SURFERS?
Surfers have a floatation device.
Surfers have thermal protection.
Surfers are comfortable in big waves.
Surfers are often in the ‘right place’ at the
‘right time’.
Topics • What Drowning Looks Like
– I.D.R.
– Distressed Swimmer
• Rip Current Dynamics
– Wind
– Waves
– Seiche
• Basic Rescue Techniques
– Board Based
– Shore Based
• Spinal Injury
• Triangulation
Instinctive Drowning Response
Vertical in Water Head Back Mouth Open NO WAVING NO YELLING NO SPLASHING
YOU HAVE 20-60 SECONDS
TO SAVE THIS PERSON
Distressed Swimmers
• More Horizontal in water
• Slow forward progress
• Arms (may) clear the water in weak
attempt at swimming strokes.
• Maybe able to yell or wave.
• Much more likely to be rescued, but at any
point may become a drowning victim.
Firefighters in oil spill
Your victim may not be able to
yell but others may…
RIP CURRENT DYNAMICS
Water always seeks the path of least resistance. Once a cut in a sandbar begins it becomes the focus of a channel of water.
Along piers and breakwalls; water piles up and channels out along the structure.
Pier Rip Currents
• A seiche may compound the problem.
• Great Lakes rip currents also form at piers and jetties.
• These rips can extend well past the structure.
• Victims who jump or are swept off piers maybe caught in these rips.
A seiche (pronounced “saysh”) is the rocking motion of
water in a lake or similarly closed or partially closed
water body. Scientists call the pendulum-like
movements within seiches “free standing-wave
oscillations.” Seiches, are almost always present on the
Great Lakes.
RESCUE
• Surf rescue is dangerous
• Equip yourself with:
– Knowledge
• Your Ability
• Your Equipment
• Your Environment
911 capability
Rescue equipment
– Common sense
When in doubt don’t go out
Board Techniques
Flip the board once so their hand is on one
rail and their armpit on the other…[Make sure their
face doesn’t smack the board]
Flip the board again, this should position them more or
less on the middle of the board…
Grasp their hand and bring it to the rail about mid-
board…
Approach the victim from the side, slide off
the board and keep it between you and the
victim…
Short Board Techniques
Try to get the board under them by submerging the board under or dragging the victim over the board. Hang off the back, balance & keep from pearling.
All boards are different experiment with your board before an emergency.
No board?
No problem • REACH
• THROW
• ROW
• TOW
• GO
Many ordinary objects can be used to make shore
based rescues. Give the victim something that
floats, calm them down and CALL 911
Throw bags and
Ring Buoys
• Secure the end
• Throw past the victim.
Last Seen Point & Triangulating
Finding our place in the line-
up: out at the lighthouse lined
up with the white house.
SPINAL
INJURIES Anatomy & physiology:
The SPINAL CORD is the
nerve tissue that runs
down the middle of the
VERTEBRA (the bones).
SPINAL
INJURY • Spinal injuries can be caused a number of ways: like striking
the bottom or a submerged object. They may also be caused by hitting the water or being hit with a surfboard (your own or someone else's).
• Caring for spinal cord injuries takes special training. Unless absolutely necessary (to save their life) do not move the victim.
• If they must be moved keep head, neck and torso in one plane: move as a unit.
Artificial respiration / CPR
Drowning victims often need to be resuscitated after rescue. Learn how to do CPR from the Red Cross, American Heart Association or other training agencies.
Classes are cheap and easy.
Lessons Learned Need for Better Statistics
Need to Research Rip Currents
Need for More Education
Need for Broad Collaboration
Need to Remember:
Cultural Shifts Take Time and Commitment
Questions or Comments?
Bob Pratt
1551 Greenview Ave.
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 643-2553
Dave Benjamin
3544 213th Place Matteson, IL 60443 (708) 903-0166 [email protected]
www.ripcurrentsafety.com