Safety review before sailing season?

[Herschel]

Here in Florida, we are sailing fine through our unseasonably warm weather, but I did manage to bang my knee a pretty good wack described over in the "Genoa only sailing" topic. Finding my first aid kit a bit unserviceable for my wound and frustrated I was sloppy enough to hurt myself, as well, I thought it might be good to start a chat about safety on our boats before most folk head out for the spring/summer season. Perhaps, sort of a preseason review of past wounds or injuries, lessons learned, what's a good first aid kit, what to do in an emergency in several scenarios, etc.---that sort of thing. I'll start with recounting an accident we had over ten years ago. While snapping the full enclosure Sunbrella pieces on after a long day on the water, my wife asked for my help on her side. As I moved toward her, she stepped backwards near the cabin entrance and tripped, falling backwards and landing on her bottom at the base of the aft dinette seat. 911 was called to the marina where an extraction on an immobilizing board was negotiated (first time from a boat for the first responders). Long story short: compression fracture on the L2 vertebrae and the end of that outing. Full recovery, totally fortunate; could have been a whole lot worse. Lessons learned: (1) Never step backwards on the boat for any reason. (2) Bought a tool for completing tough snaps! (3) Be extra careful when tired to take things slowly. I could go on with a couple of other items, but perhaps someone else has a contribution. Would like to keep focus on personal safety rather than drift into damage to boat, if that makes sense.

[NiceAft]

In 19 seasons of owning our 2005 M, neither us of can recollect any injuries, ever, but, as a nephew’s bib once stated, “Spit Happens!”
I am extreme when it comes to safety.

The two most controversial of my rules are.
(1) self inflated life vest must be worn.
(2) no alcohol on board, period. Not at anchor, at dock, under sail or power.

With all of that being said; Excellent choice of topic Herschel.

[Jimmyt]

Great topic. I would add, for those of us that trailer sail; Be extremely cautious while rigging and de-rigging on the trailer. The deck is a long fall away from the ground (which is hard packed at best, paved at worst).

Slow, and deliberate, using clean, non-skid shoes. If possible, bring along a buddy to stand below you so you have something soft to fall on.



Only injury, so far, was a pretty good finger pinch while trying to rig the boat out in the bay. Left the ramp with the mast still in trailering position, and fully rigged the boat while underway. Got pinched at the mast step wile trying to insert the pin that holds the mast base in the deck bracket. Rigging on a still trailer is less challenging.

[wyo george]

Most of my past injuries are related to fishing gear; knives, hooks, getting home later than I told my wife, etc.


For sailing I have a few general suggestions.

1.Never wrap a line around your hand. A good gust can remove fingers.

2.One hand for you and one for the boat. Sailboats are very independent; they don’t need you in their lives and they will happily sail away into the sunset after you fall overboard so stay onboard!

3.Watch for moving objects and trip hazards. Booms hurt, tillers can trip you, (see rule #2) ropes are everywhere.

4. Keep your lines tidy (see rule #3)

5. Keep a well stocked first aid kit. Not a $10 Walmart special, but rather a good kit with trauma supplies. Think about what you would do if someone fell on a knife and was bleeding severely. Can you attend to this while waiting for help?

6. Keep medications at hand. If you rely on pharmaceuticals then it might be a good idea to have spares with you on the boat, just in case. This is especially true for anyone on board with heart conditions, epilepsy or diabetes.

7. If you’re going to be late, let someone know.

There’s many more of course, these are just a few things that I have experienced in one way or another from personal experience or my previous career as a first responder.

[dlandersson]

Really? I've had all sorts of mumps and bruises (broke my ankle once and didn't realize it).

In 19 seasons of owning our 2005 M, neither us of can recollect any injuries, ever, but, as a nephew’s bib once stated, “Spit Happens!”
I am extreme when it comes to safety.

The two most controversial of my rules are.
(1) self inflated life vest must be worn.
(2) no alcohol on board, period. Not at anchor, at dock, under sail or power.

With all of that being said; Excellent choice of topic Herschel.

[Be Free]

No injuries sailing but I've had a few setting up and breaking down the boat.

Once the mast is down be very careful about the tripping hazard that the stays present while on the cabin top and fore deck.

Docks are another place to be very careful where you put your feet. I don't remember now what it was that tripped me but I vividly remember landing flat on my back on a concrete dock a few years ago.

Ramps are often slippery. Be very careful when launching and retrieving. Slippery ramps with barnacles are particularly dangerous. They are like razors. I recall one occasion where I slipped on the ramp and did not even realize that I had cut my knee to ribbons. My first clue was the puddle of blood in the cockpit. I had everything on board to treat the cuts and prevent infection but it meant no swimming over a four-day trip.

[AmandaRuth]

My two contributions:

1. check/shake/replace your fire extinguishers aboard.

2. never push on something with a collapsable boat hook that is extended - I broke my ribs that way when it gave way and I taco'd myself over a side railing. knocked the wind out of me, and I'm lucky I didn't fall between the boat and dock and get squished.

[Herschel]

My two contributions:

1. check/shake/replace your fire extinguishers aboard.

2. never push on something with a collapsible boat hook that is extended - I broke my ribs that way when it gave way and I taco'd myself over a side railing. knocked the wind out of me, and I'm lucky I didn't fall between the boat and dock and get squished.

Wow! Could you point out if that occurred on your X, and if so, was it forward, amidships, or at the cockpit aft? Are we talking a standard aluminum "West Marine" type boat hook? What kind of forces were you dealing with?

[DaveC426913]

Bought a tool for completing tough snaps!

What is this sorcery. Esplain.

[Ixneigh]

I had to get a tetanus shot after stepping on a rusty fish hook at what passes for my ramp. I’m not sure some of these hints can be avoided. But I went to get the shot right away.

Ix

[Herschel]

Bought a tool for completing tough snaps!

What is this sorcery. Esplain.

This little puppy really helps with getting my snaps done as my Sunbrella enclosure has kind of shrunk a little during storage and non-use.
https://www.amazon.com/Ironwood-Pacific ... Stainless/

[Herschel]

Bought a tool for completing tough snaps!

What is this sorcery. Esplain.

This little puppy really helps with getting my snaps done as my Sunbrella enclosure has kind of shrunk a little during storage and non-use.
https://www.amazon.com/Ironwood-Pacific ... Stainless/

OK, that did not work. Amazon offers the Ironwood Pacific Top-Snapper Tool for Boat Canvas Snaps. Search for it, and it will pop up. You use one end to assist with pressure snapping and the other end for releasing a tough snap.

[OverEasy]

Hi Herschel!

Is it this sort of thingamabob?



If it is then it is currently offered by Sailrite for those interested.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi Herschel!

Good topic!
OMG on the fall your wife took!
Glad she is all healed up.
Boy that must have been scary.
Glad you were at your slip/dock when it happened.

Anything that goes wrong when out on the water, expecially a serious injury, takes ten times more resources to get resolved. Typically ambulances don’t float and getting qualified aid personnel and equipment can be sometimes be virtually nonexistent in many places.

A good Standard First Aid Course from the American Red Cross and CPR Course are excellent starting points for anyone but especially for boaters.

While a good general “bandaid” First Aid Kit has its uses as a former city medic (long time ago) I’d highly recommend getting several absorbent “trauma” pads (4x6 inch) and several rolls of 3+ inch wide “cling” gauze in a waterproof ziplock bag for your boat, car and home. Probably the most useful items I’ve used when dealing with a laceration or bleeding type injury.

In full transparency we are currently updating our kits for home, car and boats as they are now several years old and are beginning to show thier age. Having a common inventory kit in each also helps when dealing with a crisis when it might occur. (The costs of being prepared are negligible when you need something you don’t have it 🫣).

Fortunately our personal injuries have been minimal (knock on wood) on the boat and limited to an occasional minor cut or bruise or skinned knee.

One aspect we do make sure to carry onboard are ginger chews, Pepto-Bismol, low salt crackers and bottled water just in case anyone ever starts to feel queasy … having in the past been stuck on a leaky fumey diesel boat and getting seasick for hours on end I know how awful that can feel so I try to help mitigate that for others if possible.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[NiceAft]

AmandaRuth said:

1. check/shake/replace your fire extinguishers aboard.

In my warehouse, I had multiple dry chemical fire extinguishers that had to be inspected every year. The service man picked up each extinguisher and gently rapped it all around with a rubber mallet to dislodge packed chemicals. I don’t believe shaking would be forceful enough to be effective.

I use the rubber mallet procedure on the two ABC fire extinguishers I maintain on NiceAft.