Recovering somone from the water

[Jono Garton]

Just a few pics of how to recover an able person from the water.

[Jono Garton]

and with little effort-

[Stoo]

My SO and I have the occasional discussion about this cheery subject. She weighs 98#, I weigh 195#. I dive alone most of the time and she is concerned that if I were incapacitated (or worse) that she wouldn't be able to retrieve my bloated butt. We have considered a MOB net, (http://www.markuslifenet.com/71MLRIB.htm) but I'm not sure she could get me in even with that. (I have suggested that she just loop a line abound my foot and hit the gas... although I'm not sure how well I would plane!)

I'm not remotely concerned about it, but some sure-fire way to haul me in would make her feel better. It might be time for a small hoist!

These pictures show an interesting technique. I am curious as to why you effectively remove the "victim's" ability to help by pulling his legs out first. It seems to me that if his legs were in the water, he could assist by kicking... It also seems to me that you increase the risk of "forcing" his head underwater if you lose grip of his arms while his feet are over the tubes. Most traditional recovery techniques involve "sliding" the victim over the tube. This method appears to require a lot of force to counter the victims presumed tendency to fall backwards/away from the boat...

[Rogue Wave]

Switch Engine Off

Pull You Around To The Stern Of The Boat

Straddle The Leg (of The Engine!)

Use The Tilt Mechanism To Lift You Out Of The Water

It Also Works A Treat If You Are On Your Own And You Have A Tilt Switch On The Leg


Scuse Caps !

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Use The Tilt Mechanism To Lift You Out Of The Water

We do.. but the concern is around recovery if I was unconscious...

[pathalla]

Quite frankly, I think some of us who are slow learners could "grasp" the concept of your recovery methods more quickly if you demonstrated this with a curvaceous bikini clad young lady instead of the somewhat bulky, ill defined dry suited gentleman in the pictures, no offense intended. The visual clarity this will impart would be of great benefit to those ribnetters out there who are poorly trained, besides the fact that most of them most likely would prefer to recover a damsel in distress than a bloke who went in because he dropped his beer overboard. Careless bastard!

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by pathalla

....most of them most likely would prefer to recover a damsel in distress than a bloke who went in because he dropped his beer overboard. Careless bastard!

I believe the "approved" method for recovering a bikini-clad crew member is to:

1) Shut engine off
2) Leap in to the water
3) Submerge below the "victim"
4) Push upwards, slowly, yet firmly
5) Come up for air only as required!

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Stoo

We do.. but the concern is around recovery if I was unconscious...

whats the difference! the idea is to get you out of the water your state of conciousness isn'i important as the hydraulics are providing all the effort'

I presume your SO has the skills to get the boat to you safely. If not develop them! It strikes me that this is something you could practice and probably get sorted in an hour. could be time well spent if only to remove one of your SO's worries.

[pathalla]

believe the "approved" method for recovering a bikini-clad crew member is to:

1) Shut engine off
2) Leap in to the water
3) Submerge below the "victim"
4) Push upwards, slowly, yet firmly
5) Come up for air only as required!
__________________
Pump it up and RIDE!



Ah yes... that one is a textbook example for safe consensual recovery of the female from the water. Gender specific of course, ensuring the differing female anatomy is not harmed in any way while slowly being lifted out of the water. It does sometimes take quite a few tries but is always effective in the end.
In some corners this particular technique is known as the "Moby Dick" due to the rescuer needing to resurface for air from time to time...
Few people truly know that from this rescue technique sprang the origin of the expression "THAR SHE BLOWS"
I know our British ribnetters might possibly be unfamiliar with this particular method, but Canadians and Americans have been doing it for a very long time.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

whats the difference! the idea is to get you out of the water your state of conciousness isn'i important as the hydraulics are providing all the effort'

It would be quite a feat for a person to maneuver an unconscious diver into position behind the motor, hold them there, and operate the tilt mechanism while ensuring the limp victim doesn't fall off the rising motor.

Even if that does work, supporting the weight of a wet diver and exposure suit over the engine leg is not going to help with his breathing and such.

Personally, I think the best first course of action for a solo aid provider (assuming difficulty in getting the victim back onboard), would be to get on the VHF and yell for help. You wouldn't want them going overboard as well, or getting injured in the recovery.

jky