Life
Rafts
Liferaft's
(Serviced every year)
The
liferaft is the most important piece of apparatus aboard a vessel,
it is you're last hope of survival if your vessel goes down.
Decide
for yourself the best side to board a liferaft the painterline's length
is long enough to launch a liferaft with the vessel upside down
think on this,
Positive
if
you launch the liferaft on the leeside, the liferaft is going to cling
to the vessel
Negative
The vessel could roll over on top of the liferaft
Negative
If you launch on the windward side, the liferaft is going to be hard
to keep alongside the vessel, personnel might fall into the water,
liferafts have been lost because they where launched on the windward
side
Positive
The chances of the vessel rolling over on top of the liferaft should
be minimal
Once
you've launched the liferaft and boarded it, then do the following;
(1)
Use the paddles to paddle away from the sinking vessel, you could
also take the sea-anchor and roll it into a ball and throw it in the
direction you want to go and then pull it towards you
(2)
Look for survivors in the water
(3)
If 2 or more liferafts are launched from the vessel, paddle over to
them and make your liferaft fast to it (double rations and you're
now a bigger target too)
(3)
Stream the both drogues, this will improve the liferafts stability
(4)
inflate the floor to prevent hypothermia
(5)
If you took it with you, place the E.P.I.R.B. into the water and attach
the lanyard to the liferaft
(6)
issue sea-sickness tablets
(7)
Set the watch, save your flares until you see a vessel/plane (never
fire a distress rocket with any aircraft in the area)
(8)
Check the sponsons for air, there is a bellows to pump them up with
(9)
in poor weather close the doors
(10)
DO NOT ISSUE WATER for the first 24 hours, unless the person has been
sick
(11)
Tend to injured personnel, there is a first aid kit in your liferaft,
also a thermal insulation blanket
(12)
Dry the floor with the bailer and sponges
If
the liferaft capsizes, do the following;
Have
a man stand on the gas cylinder and pull on the straps (make sure
he is downwind)
Care
of liferaft on the vessel
The
liferaft is serviced every year (take note of
when its due to be serviced)
When
taking the liferaft onboard NEVER roll it into place
Never
use a power-hose on a lifraft, it has breather holes in the bottom
of it, you might force water into the holes and perish the liferaft
Wash
it down with fresh water and a hand scrubbing brush
