The winter season of educational talks and skill sessions got off to a strong start in October, with a well attended talk on how members can stay safe on the River Mersey and beyond. This was then followed up by a practical session looking at “man overboard” procedures.
The evening’s talk started with Ian McMillan, a marine industry expert, giving his advice on the variety of life jackets available, and importantly, how we can ensure they are in working order. He also had a selection of safety equipment for members to get hands on with, such as dan buoys and harnesses.
The club was delighted to welcome RNLI New Brighton Helm, Dan Wardle, who provided his invaluable experience of many years keeping users of the River Mersey safe. He explained how to manage different situations that may arise out on the river, when to call for help and how to best interact with some of the bigger boats on the river when we’re out racing!
Neil Thomas then talked about the common injuries that can occur when sailing or around the marina, how they can be avoided and what action should be taken when they arise. Members were advised on the perils of alcohol and drowning, hypothermia and head injuries. Neil then gave a run down of different methods to rescue a person following a man overboard situation, including a demonstration of how a parbuckle works.
Out on the water of the marina for the practical session, a healthy amount of members joined Neil Thomas as he taught them various methods of rescue for a man overboard . Thank you to Meryl Cuzak for being a willing volunteer to be that person in the water!
There will be further educational and inspirational talks, as well as skill sessions, for LYC members throughout the winter period, so keep an eye on the facebook page and your emails!
