Coast Guard advice re Rescue/Safety

From: Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis
Date: Fri Jan 28 2000 - 13:55:44 PST

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From: Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis
Message-ID: <6a.6e6217.25c36a60@aol.com-DeleteThis>
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 16:55:44 EST
Subject: Coast Guard advice re Rescue/Safety
To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
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This information comes from the Commander of the air operations out of SFO.
Note that night searches now use night vision devices which greatly increase
the usefulness of a strobe light. While they will be getting FLIR (foward
looking infrared) in the future, it is still very difficult to locate a body
in the water because the FLIR has a narrow viewing area and because there is
a minimal amount of heat visible when most of your body is below the water.

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attached mail follows:

Message-Id: <FBB0D89AB7A5D211BDC5006008332D250E56EC@SFRAN_ALL>
From: "Neussl, Michael CDR" <MNeussl@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis>
To: "'Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis'" <Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis>
Cc: "Quilliam, Kevin LT" <KQuilliam@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis>, "Swatland, David CDR" <DSwatland@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis>, "Hall, Lawrence CAPT" <LAHall@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis>
Subject: RE: San Francisco Boardsailing Association
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 11:53:46 -0800
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Thanks for the info Peter, it was good talking with you as well. An
additional point of contact here at Air Station San Francisco is my Public
Affairs Officer, LTjg Kevin Quilliam. He can be reached at 650 876 2923 or
email KQuilliam@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis

As we discussed, board sailors (or any mariner for that matter) can do a lot
to help insure their own rescue should they become distressed on the water.
Several key points are:

1. Leave a float plan (or sail plan) with someone you trust. Set a return
time so that if you are not back by that time, they will know where you
went, what you were doing, what gear you had with you, and will be able to
provide that info to the Coast Guard. That can really narrow down the
search area and speed your rescue if you just fail to return after a trip.

2. Carry a signaling device. A VHF-FM radio is best (call the CG on
Channel 16 if in distress). Cell phones have been used in the past and are
better than nothing, but are not the preferred method. A light source
(flashlight, chemical lightstick), flare, whistle, mirror etc are all good
possibilities as well. At night, our helos have Night Vision Goggle
capability so if you have a light, we will be able to find you much easier
than if you don't.

3. Stay with your board and sail if possible. That larger the object you
are with, the easier it is to pick you out from the surroundings.

4. Remember that with signals, the helo aircrew has a much better chance of
seeing you if you signal us when the helo is pointing and flying toward you.
If we are right over you or past you when you light a flare, chances are no
one on the crew will see it as we travel past.

5. If you are in trouble or have called the Coast Guard and requested
assistance, signal to the aircraft or boat that is responding. Waving both
arms and drawing attention to yourself makes it clear to the
aircrew/boatcrew that you are who they are looking for. Don't just watch as
they fly by/sail by thinking you have been found and saved.

6. If you get in trouble and call the CG, then subsequently get yourself
out of trouble, make sure to let us know. This is especially true if you
leave a board or sail in or near the water. Without confirmation that you
made it out, finding a board adrift in the bay means the search is on for
us. Please save us the wasted effort by calling the Coast Guard and
"closing out the case." For example, if you follow step 1 above and leave a
sail plan with a friend, then you return home late after the friend has
reported you overdue to the Coast Guard, PLEASE CALL US so we can stand down
the search units.

7. The best phone number to use for the Coast Guard in San Francisco is not
this Air Station. Coast Guard Group San Francisco, located on Yerba Buena
Island, controls Search and Rescue operations in the whole bay area. They
can be reached at or through the following numbers: EMERGENCY 911 or
415-556-2103 Non-Emergency 415-399-3451

Thanks for helping pass the word to your fellow boardsailors about this.

Regards,
CDR Michael A. Neussl
Commanding Officer
USCG Air Station San Francisco
Phone: 650-876-2910
Fax: 650-876-2707
EMail: MNeussl@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis

-----Original Message-----
From: Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis [mailto:Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 4:58 PM
To: mneussl@d11.uscg.mil-DeleteThis
Subject: San Francisco Boardsailing Association

Michael,

It was good to meet you today at the SFO forum. I'll probably follow up with

you before our next newsletter to see if you have any advice on our safety
article once it is coming together. My info:

Peter Thorner
San Francisco Boardsailing Association
E-Mail: eyes4hire@aol.com-DeleteThis
(415) 454-3522 work
(510) 547-4422 home
Mail: 390 Alcatraz Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

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