Safety and Rescue

CG66 - the Maritime and Coastguard Agency operates a Voluntary Safety ID Scheme - "a database that is accessible to all Coastguard Co-ordination Centres throughout the UK so that they have the information they need to mount a search and rescue operation should you get into difficulty"

Clothing - see the Equipment page for thoughts on how clothing can contribute to overall safety.

Coastguard Operating Areas for Search & Rescue. This link takes you to a list of the CG Operating Area. Contact details for the relevant areas. The UKSKGB "Easy Reference Sheets" also have this information.

Coastguard - notifying - discussion

Cold Water Shock - this very detailed article from the ACC makes salutory reading.

Emergency shelters - discussion

EPIRB's - discussion

First Aid - this discussion (from the Inland section) includes ideas on First Aid pack contents, and links to an excellent article (PDF) by Dr Andy Watts on Expedition First Aid here. See also this discussion for more thoughts on contents.

Float Plan - pro-forma from Cailean MacLeod. (.PDF)

Flares - discussions here and here. Discussion here on keeping them dry. Waterproof flare tubes are discussed here. See also this discussion. This discussion references smoke flares. See this discussion for advice on disposal of misfired or time-expired flares.

Knives - safety - discussion. See also the Camping page

Lightning / storms - discusion here and here. See also this article from the (US) National Weather Service.

Maritime & Coastguard Agency are "responsible throughout the UK for implementing the Government’s maritime safety policy. That includes co-ordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majesty’s Coastguard"

Mayday / Pan pan / phonetic alphabet. Summary of protocols and procedures for emergency calls, and the phonetic alphabet.

Military Exercise Areas - Ministry of Defense contacts for some of the military exercise areas are to be found in this discussion and this one. The SCA has some useful information about military exercise areas in Scotland and that also links to a useful map. Over the next few months the MOD will be installing detailed maps of these areas on their website www.mod.uk but as at 3/2/08 it doesn't appear to be on the site. They have however provided some general information

Navigation - see the Navigation page

Night Paddling - Factsheet from Cailean MacLeod. (.PDF). See also this discussion on ways of seeing and being seen at night.

Paddle floats - discussion here and here

Pumps - manual and electric pumps - see this article on outfitting sea kayaks.

Radar Reflectors, check this .PDF (2.46 MB) looking at the "radar visibility" of kayaks.

Radar & Kayaks - discussion

Radios - choosing (not Marine VHF) - discussion

Reflective tape - discussion

Rescue techniques - "T", "X" "sling" etc - excellent illustrated article from the US on the Atlantic Kayak Tours site. See also the "Over the Side Rescue" outlined in Sea Kayaker Magazine. Some excellent video clips are to be found on this Norwegian site - even if you don't understand Norwegian - "EGENREDNING" would appear to be "Rescue". Additional discussion here on rescue techniques and this one covers stirrup rescues and alternatives. See this discussion on self rescue.

Rescues and incident reports. Rescue of a kayaker in the vicinity of the Summer Isles - compilation of posts from the Community Forum. Rescue by Swanage Lifeboat - sadly involving a fatality - summary of posts from the Community Forum with some learning points for kayakers. Rescue of a diver in distress - report of a real rescue, by Julian Patrick. A Mayday at Rhoscolyn - a rescue involving the Coastguard and an RAF helicopter - contains some useful learning points and general advice. This discussion deals with a tragic drowning in the Sound of Luing. This article details a "near miss" in the Firth of Forth.

Risk taking - article from Risktaking.co.uk - a website which provides an "introduction to the psychology of risk taking for general readers, and specialised support for psychologists".

RNLI website. Includes a fascinating tour of a Severn class lifeboat and some good videos, as well as details of how to support this essential service.

Rolling - see the Technique Page for links to several articles and discussions.

Safe practise - an American introduction to safe practice.

Safety - useful Fact Sheet from Cailean MacLeod. (.PDF). WaveLength magazine has some good safety articles.

Safety Kit - discussion

Solo Paddling - discussion

Strobe / torch - review

Strobe lights - discussion with various suggestions for strobes.

Towing / Tow lines - discussion here and here and here. See also this article on choosing, making and using a towline for a sea-boat, by Mike Buckley. Check this discussion for comments on attaching a line to the towee's boat. This discussion deals with the "Rafted Bulldog Tow". Useful article from Atlantic Kayak Tours on towing techniques (.pdf)

VHF - Marine VHF - a helpful safety item! The VHF page has links to discussions on choosing and using.