Emergency Situations

• Radio Channel and How to Call for Help

  The radio set to VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) connects to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Command Center. You can also reach the Pacific Southwest District Command Center’s maritime emergency number at 510-437-3701. OPD’s radios are floatable.

  1. Ensure you are on Channel 16.
  2. Adjust the ‘squelch” control to low to minimize static noise.
  3. Push and hold the button to speak (transmit).
  4. Speak in a normal voice.
  5. Release the button to hear the other person (receive).

  Information to be provided to an emergency responder:

  1. State that you need help. Try not to use “Mayday” unless in dire emergency.
  2. This is “Your first name.”
  3. Vessel type: “Dragon boat” or “Kayak” or “Outrigger-canoe.”
  4. Location: Quickly look around you and describe where you are; e.g., “Oyster Point Marina inside the seawall,” “Oyster Point Marina, outside the seawall,” “Oyster Point Cove,” “Outside Brisbane Marina, “Alongside Highway 101 off Sierra Point, Brisbane,” “Near Candlestick Park,” “Near SFO Airport,” “Approaching San Mateo Bridge.” If you see the name of a boat nearby, provide the name of the boat; the USCG can track its location.
  5. Nature of distress; e.g., “Man overboard,” Boat capsize,” “Unconscious paddler,” “Paddler having emergency health issues; e,g., heart attack, stroke.”
  6. Number of people involved.
  7. Whether everyone is wearing a life jacket.
  8. Provide the kind of assistance needed.
  9. Finish with “Over” before releasing the button.
  10. Listen to the response.
  11. Keep the radio on; the USCG can find you quicker if you can transmit a signal.
  12. Example of a distress call:
      1. We need help, we need help;
      2. This is Suzie;
      3. We are on a Dragon boat;
      4. We are inside the cove at Oyster Point Cove across from AC Hotel;
      5. Our boat has capsized;
      6. We have a total of 21 people; one is injured on the head and is bleeding;
      7. We are all wearing life jackets;
      8. We need medical assistance for the injured paddler;
      9. Over.
• Contents of OPD’s Safety Boxes

  Each boat has a dedicated water-tight safety box. Each safety box has a dedicated ankle leash attached to the box, which must be used to fasten the safety box to the steering bar. The safety boxes are stored on the right side of the shed under the life jackets by the side door. Each safety box contains the following:

  1. Radio (floating)
  2. Throw bag
  3. Emergency kit
  4. Air horn
  5. Flare
  6. Emergency Mylar thermal blankets
• How to Use the Throw Bag

  A throw bag is a bag filled with rope used as a common water rescue tool. The OPD throw bags are yellow in color and each bag contains a 70-foot long rope.

  1. After the “Brace” command is called, ensure you have a safe and secure footing in the boat.
  2. Grab the loose end of the rope firmly with your non-throwing hand and grasp the bag firmly with your throwing hand.
  3. Make sure to leave about ten feet of “tail” on the loose end so you can let out some rope if needed.
  4. Yell “ROPE” to attract the person in the water.
  5. Try to make eye contact and aim straight at the person’s head.
  6. As you throw the bag, the rope will unravel from the bag.
  7. Depending on your ability and training, use an underhand or an overhand grip to throw the bag.
  8. As you throw and release the bag, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you don’t let go of the loose end in your non-throwing hand. That loose end is what you must use to pull the person in.
  9. If your throw is short, ask the person to swim to the bag, if possible; it’s unlikely that you’ll have time to coil the rope for a second throw. The rescue has to be quick to prevent hypothermia.
  10. Ask the person in the water to hold the rope – not the bag, over the shoulder while floating on the back with the feet pointed away.
  11. If needed, have another crew member help you pull on the rope to pull in the person.
  12. See the “Man-overboard” section below on how to pull the person into the boat.
  13. After use and after dry-out, make sure you repack the throw bag properly to prevent a knotted mess and ensure future easy unraveling.
• How to Use the Flare

  The flare should only be used in dire emergency situations where the USCG cannot locate us or in dense misty or foggy conditions during sunrise or sunset paddling.

  1. Hold the flare below the line mark.
  2. Twist and remove the cap, exposing the ignitor button.
  3. Use the scratch surface of the cap and gently press the ignitor button and strike away from face and body, aiming downwind.
  4. BURNING END OF FLARE SHOULD BE POINTED AWAY FROM THE HAND – SPARKS AND LIQUID ASH WILL BURN HAND AND CLOTHING.
  5. Always keep the flare aiming downwind.
  6. Allow flares to burn completely; do not try to extinguish in water.
• Always Listen and Stay Calm
  1. Always listen to the drummer or steersperson.
  2. If you hear ‘HOLD THE BOAT OR STOP THE BOAT’ at any time, follow their directions immediately.
  3. Limit chatting.
  4. Do not scream or panic in cases of emergency. YOU MUST REMAIN CALM.
  5. Use common sense at all times.
• Buddy System
  1. Know your seat count and your seatmate. If the boat goes over, the steersperson can account for everyone by having everyone call out his/her/their number, and/or determine who is missing. See the “Boat Capsize” sections below.
  2. Call out and look for your buddy in the event of a capsize; however, bear in mind that when a boat rolls, your buddy may end up on the other side.
  3. Ask for his/her/their status and condition.
  4. Do not hold on to your buddy. If still available, use your paddle as your connection; otherwise, reach out by extending your arm.
  5. The first and last seats on the boat must also check for the drummer/coach and steersperson.
  6. In a case of “Man-overboard,” wait for the steersperson to maneuver to an optimal boat position and listen to all commands before extending out your paddle handle (the T). See the “Man-overboard” section below and the “How to Use the Throw Bag” section above.
• Boat Capsize – Boat is Rolling Over
  1. A roll-over may not be stopped once it starts to turn.
  2. Remain calm.
  3. If you are on the higher side of the boat when it begins to go over, try to jump clear of your seat partner to avoid injury.
  4. If you come up under the boat, there will be an air pocket available for you to catch your breath and get your bearings.
  5. If you are at the back, watch for the oar.
  6. Always watch your head to prevent a head injury against the benches or inside of the boat; place your hands over your head.
  7. Feel your way to the side of the boat and then surface on the outside.
  8. Hold on to the gunnel / gunwale.
  9. Conduct a head count and ensure everyone resurfaced from under the boat.
  10. Call out to your buddy to let him/her/them know where you are.
  11. Identify any missing or injured paddler.
  12. If you are separated from the boat, first hold on to your PFD, tucking in your arms to protect your elbows to get your bearings; then, swim back to the boat.
  13. If paddlers are injured or having difficulty swimming back to the boat, provide them with assistance as needed.
  14. See the next section on calling for help.
• Boat Capsize – Stay With the Boat and Call for Help
  1. Call for help. See the “Radio Channel and How to Call for Help” section above.
  2. Stay with the boat until the rescue craft arrives.
  3. Under no circumstances should you attempt to swim to shore.
  4. Spread evenly around both sides of the capsized boat, holding onto the gunnel or to your paddle if you still have it.
  5. The bottom side of the boat will have barnacle encrustations covered with algae; so, be careful of potential cuts.
  6. Spread evenly around the outside and have one of the crew remove the oar from the oar lock and hold on to it.
  7. If possible, gently roll the boat over:
     1. Have most of the stronger paddlers move to the narrower bow and stern areas with both hands over the bottom of the boat and reaching as far out to the other side of the gunnel.
     2. The other paddlers will all be evenly spaced out on the other side of the boat.
     3. At the count of “three,” the paddlers at the bow and stern will pull and roll while the paddlers across will push and roll the boat over.
     4. As the boat flips over, all paddlers must quickly step back to avoid injury.
     5. Bear in mind that the boat weighs about 600 lbs; therefore, only attempt rolling the boat if you have strong paddlers.
  8. Locate the bailers; if none, have a few paddlers bail the water using cupped hands.
  9. Load the rest of the paddlers as soon as possible to prevent hypothermia from setting in.
  10. Make sure the oar is recovered.
  11. Recover as many paddles as possible but only if it is safe to do so; if there are strong water currents, stay with the boat and attempt to recover the paddles when everyone is back on the boat.
  12. Once the Rescue Boat arrives, they are in charge; obey the instructions from the rescue boat.
  13. If there are injured paddlers, make the rescue boat aware of the situation.
• Boat Capsize – Boat is Sinking During a Race
  1. During an intense race under highly choppy water conditions, designated paddlers must bail the boat as needed; failure to do so will result in the boat slowly but surely sinking.
  2. The boat has the capacity to support a full crew even when fully submerged due to its lightweight construction and its bulkheads filled with air.
  3. Stop paddling and remain calm. Surprisingly enough, we have witnessed racers continuing to race even while the boat was sinking!
  4. Locate the bailers; if none, have all the paddlers bail the water using cupped hands.
  5. If the boat continues to sink, designate a few paddlers to remain on the boat and continue bailing.
  6. The rest of the crew needs to unload and spread evenly around both sides of the capsized boat, holding onto the gunnel / gunwale or to the paddle if still there.
  7. Wait for the race rescue team, which will arrive within seconds of sinking.
• Boat Capsize – Boat is Sinking During Practice
  1. Boat sinking during practice is very rare unless caused by a collision or unusually high waves.
  2. The boat has the capacity to support a full crew even when fully submerged due to its lightweight construction and its bulkheads filled with air.
  3. Stop paddling and remain calm.
  4. Assess the situation for paddler injuries or collision damage to the hull or other parts of the boat.
  5. Locate the bailers; if none, have all the paddlers bail the water using cupped hands.
  6. If the boat continues to sink, designate a few paddlers to remain on the boat and continue bailing.
  7. The rest of the crew needs to unload and spread evenly around both sides of the capsized boat, holding onto the gunnel / gunwale or to the paddle if still there.
  8. If there is no injury or damage, and bailing is successful, the crew can head back.
  9. If there are injuries and/or damage to the boat preventing the crew from heading back, call for help. See the “Radio Channel and How to Call for Help” section above.
  10. Stay inside the boat until the rescue craft arrives but continue bailing.
  11. Under no circumstances should you attempt to swim to shore.
  12. If the boat continues to sink due to damaged hull, offload and spread evenly around both sides of the boat, holding onto the gunnel or to your paddle.
  13. Once the Rescue Boat arrives, they are in charge; obey the instructions from the rescue boat.
  14. If there are injured paddlers, make the rescue boat aware of the situation.
• Man-Overboard (Term 'man' here refers to anyone on board)
  1. If the steersperson or anyone falls into the water, someone must immediately call out: “Man Overboard.” This call communicates the situation to the entire boat.
  2. The coach takes over the command and keeps everyone calm.
  3. Call for, and maintain, a “Brace” until a new command is called.
  4. Identify a timekeeper to track how long the person has been in the water.
  5. Call out to the person to check for alertness and responsiveness.
  6. If there is no current and the person is close to the boat, have the closest paddler on the boat reach out by extending out a paddle with the ‘T’ towards the person in the water.
  7. If the person is drifting away, quickly toss the throw rope at the person; this connects the boat with the person to prevent further drifting, especially if there is a strong current. See “How to Use the Throw Bag” section above for instructions.
  8. Once the person has a good rope-grip, the crew pulls the person towards the boat to minimize the distance and to conserve the person’s energy.
  9. If possible, try to pull the person back onto the boat at the front or at the back of the boat without leaning outwards.
  10. Hold on to the life jacket’s shoulder straps but first ensure the life jacket is snug. If needed, ask other paddlers to hold on to the puller’s waist or legs for extra leverage and stability.
  11. Make use of buoyancy by bouncing the person up and down a few times before pulling up.
  12. Either a back or a front pull can be executed.
      1. A front pull will allow the person to grab onto the gunnel while being pulled.
      2. A back pull may be preferable if the person has no energy left.
  13. Paddlers on the other side of the boat must maintain the “Brace” and lean slightly outwards to compensate and stabilize the boat.
  14. Wrap the person in one of the thermal blankets located in the safety box.
  15. If it is difficult to pull the person back onto the boat, quickly wrap the rope around his/her/their waist and paddle back to the closest safe and unobstructed shoreline with ample clearance around the person.
  16. This entire rescue mission must be completed within 10 minutes or less to reduce the risk of hypothermia. The time keeper needs to remind the coach every 3 minutes on how much time has elapsed.
  17. Once on shore, keep the person wrapped in the thermal blanket, have someone stay with the person, and drive the person immediately to one of the bathrooms for a hot shower.
  18. All paddlers should keep a set of dry clothes in their car or inside the shed; at a minimum, two towels and an extra jacket.
• Acknowledgement
  1. OPD Safety Committee.
  2. Certain sections were incorporated under consent from the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).