Removal of water safety equipment, and how to use a lifesaver ring
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2012-06-04 07:40:28 - Graham Ellis
Melskam Gate is a weir and fish ladder across the river Avon, where a healthy flow of water drops a metre of more on its way down towards Bristol. At time of heavy rain, it becomes a swirling torrent with the weir submerged and the water level many metres higher. And at this spot, dangerous if anyone falls in, are three lifesaving rings - or at least the boxes for them.
Walking beside the river yesterday, I noticed a ring of the sort I presume(d) to be in the boxes lying on the bank a few yards downstream. It's going to be pretty useless there if someone has to go to the box for it, and it looks like the rope attached to it is all tangled up too, so even if someone had to use it and found it, they would waste valuable seconds or minutes untying it.I'm pretty negative on vandalism. I'm doubly disgusted with anyone who removes safety equipment from a dangerous place, or renders it unuseable. Come to think of it though, they're probably the ones who, themselves, will be playing about on the weir and will drown should they fall in, with potential rescuers standing on the bank without any tools to try and save them. They're idiots.
Use of a lifesaver ring
If you ever find yourself having to use a lifesaver ring, please bear the following in mind:
a) You should keep hold of the end of the rope as you throw the ring, so that you can pull the ring (and person holding onto it) back to shore. It's not (just) a flotation aid for them - it's also a means, if you hold on to the rope, of getting them back to safety.
b) When you throw the ring, don't try and throw it TO them - throw it a little beyond, then pull it back to them. You don't want to hit them with it / knock them out (this things can be substantial and hard objects) and you don't want it to fall short either. If there's a current in the water, throw it upstream and let the current carry the ring onto them.
This advice is as I remember it from my lifeguard training which, however, lapsed a number of years ago. Please take up to date, professional instruction in preference to mine. If you're regularly beside the water, especially if looking after others, it's a good idea to find a training or retired lifesaver ring that you can pick up and get the feel for (and perhaps practise with) before you may have to use one in a real life emergency.