ATTACHMENT B1 Technical References.pdf

SOW Section 6 – References 6.1 & 6.12

Please contact Stephanie Gallahan or Jim Ferguson directly for the information.

RESCUE AND SURVIVAL

SYSTEMS MANUAL

COMDTINST M10470.10F

The World Standard for Professional Boat Operations

Commandant United States Coast Guard

2100 Second Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20593-0001 Staff Symbol: CG-37RCB Phone: (202) 372-2459 Fax: (202) 372-2909

COMDTINST M10470.10F

03 Jan 2007

COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION M10470.10F

Subj: RESCUE AND SURVIVAL SYSTEMS MANUAL

Ref: (a) Administrative Investigation Manual, COMDTINST M5830.1 (series)

(b) Financial Resource Management Manual (FRMM), COMDTINST M7100.3 (series)

(c) Simplified Acquisitions Procedures (SAP) Handbook, COMDTINST M4200.13 (series)

(d) Supply Policy And Procedures Manual (SPPM), COMDTINST M4400.19 (series)

(e) Property Management Manual (PMM), COMDTINST M4500.5 (series)

(f) Boat Crew Seamanship Manual, COMDTINST M16114.5 (series)

(g) Coatings and Color Manual, COMDTINST M10360.3 (series)

(h) Equipment Lists, COMDTINST M16714.3 (series)

(i) United States Coast Guard Regulations 1992, COMDTINST M5000.3 (series)

(j) Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6 (series)

1. PURPOSE. This Manual establishes operational policy, equipment standards, engineering procedures and procurement authorization for the use, configuration, maintenance and logistics of rescue and survival equipment used by the United States Coast Guard.

2. ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistic commands, commanding officers of headquarters units, assistant commandants for directorates, the Judge Advocate General and special staff offices at Headquarters, sector commanders, boat unit commanding officers, cutter commanding officers and officers-in-charge shall ensure the contents of this Manual are utilized in all boat operations. Internet release is authorized.

3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Rescue and Survival Systems Manual, COMDTINST M10470.10E, all previous Commandant Notes, released prior to Aug 2006, under SSIC 10470 and all subsequent message changes to the Rescue and Survival System Manual, COMDTINST M10470.10E are cancelled.

DISTRIBUTION – SDL No. 146 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 B 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 C 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 D 1 1 1 1 E 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ` F G 1 1 1 H

NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION:

Rescue and Survival Systems Manual

4. PROCEDURES. The personal protective equipment policies in this Manual apply to all Coast Guard personnel and scheduled passengers embarked on Coast Guard boats.

5. CHANGES. Commandant (CG-37RCB) will coordinate changes to this Manual. This Manual is under constant review and will be updated as necessary. Time-sensitive amendments will be promulgated by message, pending their inclusion in the next change to this manual. All users are urged to provide recommendations for improvement to this Manual via the chain of command.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT AND IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS. Environmental considerations were examined in the development of this Manual and have been determined not to be applicable.

7. FORMS. Personal Clothing and Equipment Record, AF Form 538 and Cutter Engineering Report, CG-4874 is available on USCG Forms.

DAVID P. PEKOSKE /s/ Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Operations

Record of Changes

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Chapter 1

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................1-1 SECTION A. WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, AND NOTES................................................................................................ 1-3 SECTION B. PROGRAM MANAGER....................................................................................................................... 1-5 SECTION C. CHANGES.......................................................................................................................................... 1-7 SECTION D. MAINTENANCE................................................................................................................................. 1-9 SECTION E. LOGISTICS ...................................................................................................................................... 1-11

CHAPTER 2 PERSONAL SURVIVABILITY .....................................................................................2-1 SECTION A. HUMAN FACTORS AND SURVIVABILITY .......................................................................................... 2-3

A.1 The Will to Survive .................................................................................................................................... 2-4 A.2 Human Elements........................................................................................................................................ 2-9

SECTION B. HEALTH AND HYGIENE .................................................................................................................. 2-13 B.1 Survival First Aid .................................................................................................................................... 2-14 B.2 Health Aspects ......................................................................................................................................... 2-15 B.3 Personal Hygiene .................................................................................................................................... 2-16 B.4 Nourishment ............................................................................................................................................ 2-17

SECTION C. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND SURVIVABILITY........................................................................ 2-19 C.1 Sea State .................................................................................................................................................. 2-20 C.2 Water Temperature ................................................................................................................................. 2-21 C.3 Air Temperature ...................................................................................................................................... 2-24 C.4 Weather and Time of Day........................................................................................................................ 2-25 C.5 Proximity to Land.................................................................................................................................... 2-26 C.6 Protection from Exposure ....................................................................................................................... 2-27

SECTION D. ABANDON SHIP, EGRESS, AND RAFTSMANSHIP............................................................................. 2-35 D.1 Abandon Ship .......................................................................................................................................... 2-36 D.2 Boat Egress ............................................................................................................................................. 2-38 D.3 Survival Raftsmanship............................................................................................................................. 2-40 D.4 Surviving Without a Raft ......................................................................................................................... 2-42

CHAPTER 3 RESCUE EQUIPMENT AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.......................................3-1 SECTION A. RESCUE EQUIPMENT........................................................................................................................ 3-3

A.1 CG-P6 Dewatering Pump.......................................................................................................................... 3-4 A.2 Stokes Litter ............................................................................................................................................... 3-6 A.3 Ring Buoys............................................................................................................................................... 3-10 A.4 Floating Electric Marker Light ............................................................................................................... 3-11 A.5 Rescue Line Throw Bag........................................................................................................................... 3-12 A.6 406 MHz Category I and II EPIRBS ....................................................................................................... 3-13 A.7 Other EPIRB Variants ............................................................................................................................. 3-14

SECTION B. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT POLICY...................................................................... 3-15 B.1 Command Responsibility and Waiver Authorization............................................................................... 3-16 B.2 Thermal Protection Principles ................................................................................................................ 3-21 B.3 Government Property and Personal Issue Documentation ..................................................................... 3-23

SECTION C. BASIC CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT............................................................................................... 3-27 C.1 Helmet ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-28 C.2 Rain Gear ................................................................................................................................................ 3-29 C.3 Boat Shoes ............................................................................................................................................... 3-30 C.4 Gloves...................................................................................................................................................... 3-31 C.5 Goggles ................................................................................................................................................... 3-32 C.6 Parachute Bag......................................................................................................................................... 3-33 i

C.7 Sunglasses ............................................................................................................................................... 3-34 C.8 Temperate/Wet Weather Boot ................................................................................................................. 3-35 C.9 Anti-Exposure Coveralls ......................................................................................................................... 3-36

SECTION D. COLD WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT............................................................................. 3-37 D.1 Layer III Garment ................................................................................................................................... 3-39 D.2 MCWSS Wear and Maintenance............................................................................................................. 3-41 D.3 Industrial Style Dry Suit.......................................................................................................................... 3-43 D.4 Insulated Boots........................................................................................................................................ 3-48 D.5 Thermal Underwear................................................................................................................................ 3-49 D.6 Thermal Socks ......................................................................................................................................... 3-50 D.7 Neoprene Hood ....................................................................................................................................... 3-51 D.8 Balaclava ................................................................................................................................................ 3-52 D.9 PS50 Watch Cap ..................................................................................................................................... 3-53 D.10 Cold Weather Glove Layers .................................................................................................................. 3-54

SECTION E. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT .............................................................................................................. 3-55 E.1 Boat Crew Survival Vest.......................................................................................................................... 3-56 E.2 Boat Crew Safety Belt.............................................................................................................................. 3-58 E.3 Immersion Suit......................................................................................................................................... 3-60

CHAPTER 4 PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES...........................................................................4-1 SECTION A. PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE POLICY......................................................................................... 4-3

A.1 Command Responsibility and Risk Management ...................................................................................... 4-4 A.2 Minimum Flotation Requirements ............................................................................................................. 4-5

SECTION B. COAST GUARD APPROVED INHERENTLY BUOYANT PFDS............................................................. 4-7 B.1 Stearns® Model I600 Type I ..................................................................................................................... 4-8 B.2 Type III .................................................................................................................................................... 4-10 B.3 Dynamic Strength Tested Type III ........................................................................................................... 4-12 B.4 Survivors Type I....................................................................................................................................... 4-14 B.5 Type III Flotation Jacket ......................................................................................................................... 4-15

SECTION C. NON-COAST GUARD APPROVED CUTTER SPECIFIC PFDS........................................................... 4-17 C.1 Standard Navy PFD with Collar ............................................................................................................. 4-18 C.2 Abandon Ship Life Preserver .................................................................................................................. 4-20

SECTION D. NON-COAST GUARD APPROVED AUTOMATIC/MANUAL INFLATABLE PFDS .............................. 4-23 D.1. Mustang Survival MD3031 w/ Survival Equipment Pocket ................................................................... 4-24 D.2. Mustang Survival MD3183 w/ Survival Equipment Pockets.................................................................. 4-26 D.3 Lifesaving Systems Life Preserver Survival Vest .................................................................................... 4-28

CHAPTER 5 LIFE RAFTS, GRIPES, RELEASES, LIFE FLOAT AND MULTIPLE PERSON

RECOVERY SYSTEM ...........................................................................................................................5-1

SECTION A. BOAT INSTALLED LIFE RAFTS......................................................................................................... 5-3 SECTION B. 8 AND 25 PERSON COAST GUARD APPROVED CUTTER LIFE RAFTS............................................... 5-5 SECTION C. CUTTER SPECIFIC GRIPES AND HYDROSTATIC RELEASES ............................................................ 5-9 SECTION D. LIFE FLOATS .................................................................................................................................. 5-11 SECTION E. MULTIPLE PERSON RECOVERY SYSTEM (MPRS)........................................................................ 5-13

CHAPTER 6 SURFACE SWIMMER EQUIPMENT..........................................................................6-1 SECTION A. GENERIC SURFACE SWIMMER EQUIPMENT.................................................................................... 6-3

A.1 Surf Cap..................................................................................................................................................... 6-5 A.2 Booties ....................................................................................................................................................... 6-6 A.3 Neoprene Gloves ....................................................................................................................................... 6-7 A.4 Mask and Snorkel ...................................................................................................................................... 6-8 A.5 Fins............................................................................................................................................................ 6-9 ii

SECTION B. CUTTER SPECIFIC SWIMMER EQUIPMENT.................................................................................... 6-11

B.1 Cutter Swimmer Dry Suit......................................................................................................................... 6-12 B.2 Cutter Swimmer Rapid Don Rescue Suit ................................................................................................. 6-15 B.3 Cutter Swimmer Wet Suit......................................................................................................................... 6-16 B.4 Cutter Swimmer Harness Flotation Vest ................................................................................................. 6-17

SECTION C. BOAT SPECIFIC SWIMMER EQUIPMENT........................................................................................ 6-19 C.1 Boat Swimmer Harness and Tending Line .............................................................................................. 6-20

APPENDIX A: EQUIPMENT LISTING..............................................................................................A-1

............................ B-1 APPENDIX B: STANDARDIZATION DETERMINATIONS AND FINDINGS

.......C-1 APPENDIX C: RESCUE & SURVIVAL SYSTEMS/EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE LOG

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Introduction

Introduction This manual contains the information necessary for the proper administration of the unit’s rescue and survival systems program. It defines operational requirements, and directs specific policies related to procurement, required maintenance, procedures, and documentation necessary to meet Coast Guard personnel survivability and operational safety needs.

Systems and Equipment Configurations

The equipment and system configurations identified in this manual are found to be the most compatible with Coast Guard operations. Deviations or modifications to configurations of the equipment or systems identified in this manual are not authorized.

The Chain of Command shall ensure strict compliance with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements directed in this manual. All Coast Guard personnel assigned as Crewmembers, scheduled mission personnel, and scheduled passengers are required to comply with the policies in this instruction. Commanding Officers shall convene an administrative investigation into all instances of non-compliance IAW reference (a). If the investigation reveals barriers to compliance attributable to the policies directed in this manual, funding, training or other cause that would require headquarters program manager action to alleviate, then a copy of the investigation and recommendations shall be forwarded to Commandant (CG-

37RCB).

In this chapter This chapter contains the following sections:

Section Topic Page A Warnings, Cautions, and Notes 1-3 B Program Manager 1-5 C Changes 1-7 D Maintenance 1-9 E Logistics 1-11

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1-2

Section A. Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

Overview The following definitions apply to Warnings, Cautions, and Notes found throughout this manual.

A.1.

WARNING

A.2.

CAUTION !

A.3.

NOTE

OPERATING PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES OR STEPS THAT

MUST BE CAREFULLY FOLLOWED TO AVOID PERSONAL

INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.

OPERATING PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES OR STEPS THAT MUST

BE CAREFULLY FOLLOWED TO AVOID EQUIPMENT DAMAGE.

Operating procedures, techniques or steps that require additional emphasis.

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1-4

Section B. Program Manager

Authority This Rescue and Survival Systems Manual is prepared and released under the authority of the Commandant, United States Coast Guard.

Commandant (CG-37RCB) is the Rescue and Survival Systems Program Manager for U. S. Coast Guard rescue and survival systems.

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1-6

Section C. Changes

Changes Commandant (CG-37RCB) promulgates this manual and its changes.

Submit change recommendations that include new or changed requirements and supporting rationale or justification via the chain of command to CG- 37RCB using the standard Memo format.

The address for CG-37RCB is:

Commandant (CG-37RCB) Attn: Rescue and Survival Systems Manager 2100 2ND Street SW STE 3208 Washington, D.C. 20593-0001

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1-8

Section D. Maintenance

D.1 Rescue and Survival Systems Petty Officer

Surface units do not have a specific petty officer rating dedicated to rescue and survival equipment maintenance. Commanding Officers and Officers- In-Charge shall designate, in writing, a Rescue and Survival Systems Petty Officer (R&S PO) to manage the unit’s rescue and survival equipment. The R&S PO is responsible for the administration of the requirements detailed in this manual, and is effectively the unit’s expert for this equipment; however, it is not intended that this individual personally inspect or maintain all equipment, but ensures that the maintenance and inspections are carried out.

D.2 Periodic Maintenance

Periodic maintenance is essential to promote longevity and ensure that rescue and survival equipment and systems function properly when needed.

Specific guidance is directed throughout this manual. Applicable equipment and systems sections indicate when and how maintenance is to be accomplished. Equipment and systems requiring only minor procedures for maintenance will contain those procedures in the applicable section.

Equipment and systems requiring extensive procedures for maintenance will have a maintenance procedure card that shall be used to perform those procedures.

D.3 Maintenance Procedure Cards

Rescue and Survival Systems maintenance procedure cards have precedence over all other maintenance and inspection procedures. Cards are maintained electronically and are posted on Coast Guard Central.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE DIRECTED PERIODIC

MAINTENANCE FOR EQUIPMENT OR SYSTEMS MAY RESULT

IN INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.

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D.4 Maintenance Documentation Instructions

Maintenance logs shall be used to track equipment or system maintenance when maintenance is directed on a Maintenance Procedure Card. Reproduce the generic Maintenance Log in Appendix E of this manual for the equipment or system required.

Enter the name of the item on the first line and at the page bottom. Model, Serial Number and the date placed in service are required. When performing both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance to the item, record the inspection date, and type (W – Weekly, M – Monthly, Q – Quarterly, S – Semi Annually, A – Annually, P – Post Use, O – Other, and MX for maintenance only activities). For other than scheduled inspections (when circling “O” and “MX”, specify the action taken in the Remarks section.

Attach additional forms or work orders if necessary. If the item is sent to a servicing facility, ensure the Inspection Facility block is recorded. A servicing facility stamp may be used in this block.

Lot numbers and sub-assembly serial numbers can be recorded on page one of multiple page documents. Repeating this information on subsequent pages is not necessary providing a running total of pages exist for that item at the bottom right of the page. Lots or serial numbers that are replaced must be corrected in this section and noted in the Remarks block.

NOTE Maintenance logs shall be used to track equipment or system maintenance for each item that has a Maintenance Procedure Card. Logs may be locally reproduced from the Maintenance Log in Appendix C of this manual.

Entries shall be recorded in pen and ink only.

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Section E. Logistics

E.1 Acquisitions Policy Statement

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is procured under the statutory authority of 29 U.S.C. § 668 and 14 U.S.C. § 477 and is managed in accordance with reference (b). General safety equipment/PPE item selection criteria is based on 29 CFR §1910.132(a) (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657).

Lifesaving/personnel survivability equipment and clothing selection criteria are based on 46 CFR Part 160 and CG policy. All items herein comply with USCG and OSHA regulations.

E.2 Unit Allowances

Unit allowances for rescue and survival equipment and systems shall be determined by platform type, mission to be accomplished, number of crewmembers assigned or passengers embarked, and geographical location or range the platform is ordered to operate in. A spare allowance may be necessary for augmentation during surge operations and to allow scheduling flexibility for equipment or systems out of service for rework or awaiting replacement. Commanding Officers and Officers-In-Charge may procure additional allowance items as necessary to ensure the unit maintains the directed readiness status. Engineering Logistics Center Instructions including: Management Information for Configuration and Allowances (MICA), Allowance Equipage Lists (AEL), Combined Allowance for Logistics and Maintenance Support (CALM), and this manual establish the minimum allowance requirements for platform type.

E.3.

Procurement Policies

Rescue and survival systems listed in this manual are procured in accordance with reference (c) and listed in Appendix A. Equipment on Headquarters managed contracts shall only be procured following the provisions on those contracts. Equipment on General Services Administration (GSA) schedules shall be procured from among all qualified GSA vendors. Many equipment items presented are procured from commercial sources and the salient characteristics are described with known sources identified and units are required to procure brand name or equal equipment that meets all the salient characteristics. Some commercially procured equipment that is of a standard configuration critical to mission safety, platform configuration or law enforcement jurisdiction shall only be procured from the identified sources.

The R&S PO is responsible for the administration of the requirements detailed in this manual, and is effectively the unit’s expert for this equipment; however, it is not intended that this individual personally inspect or maintain all equipment, but ensures that the maintenance and inspections are carried out. Commanding Officers and Officers-In-Charge shall refer all procurement questions to the local Contracting Officer for guidance.

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E.4 Property Management

Rescue and survival systems and equipment identified throughout this manual shall be managed in accordance with applicable directives. Rescue and Survival Equipment is managed as Direct Turnover (DTO) Material unless otherwise specified in this manual. Spare gear is considered expensed. There is no requirement to place these items into an inventory tracking system.

Only limited amounts of inventory should be maintained by the unit. If a unit keeps an Inventory of equipment it shall be managed in accordance with reference (d).

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Chapter 2 Personal Survivability

Chapter 2

Personal Survivability

Introduction This chapter addresses survivability in an open water environment to ensure that the safety and survival of Coast Guard personnel is not compromised.

Since the Coast Guard operates primarily at sea, it is imperative Coast Guard personnel become thoroughly familiar with the use and operation of safety and survival systems and equipment in this manual for use in an open water environment.

In this chapter This chapter contains the following sections:

Section Topic Page

A Human Factors and Survivability 2-3

B Health and Hygiene 2-13

C Environmental Factors and Survivability 2-19

D Abandon Ship, Egress, and Raftsmanship 2-35

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2-2

Section A. Human Factors and Survivability

Overview Survival is the “preservation of one’s own life under conditions of immediate peril.” To preserve one’s own life at sea requires the ability to live through extreme conditions of emotional and physical shock, and hardship for an indefinite period of time. When faced with an open water survival situation, it is important to remember that environmental obstacles are as much mental as physical. Before accumulating information on the use and operation of survival systems, it is important to first understand the psychological barriers to the will to survive that must be overcome.

The most predominant psychological barrier to survival is fear: fear of the unknown, fear of discomfort, and fear of one’s own weakness. Fear of the environment in an open water situation leads us to fear our own chances of survival, and even though we overcome these fears to some extent, a lack of confidence in our ability may weaken our will to survive. Studies of survivors and their experiences show that the successful survival of any situation depends on several factors. The survivor must:

Be mentally and spiritually prepared for the possibility;

Be in good physical condition;

Have the proper equipment available and know how to use it;

Be properly dressed for any survival situation; and Be thoroughly familiar with vessel egress procedures.

The key to these experiences is developing a survivor’s “attitude”. In other words, to develop those traits and characteristics that will enhance one’s chance of survival.

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A.1 The Will to Survive

A.1.a The Will to Survive

Based on interviews with a number of sea survivors, twelve characteristics were identified to help in understanding the will to survive. They are:

Courage Purpose Determination Attentiveness Cheerfulness Confidence Positiveness Productiveness Flexibility Persistence Willingness Certainty

A.1.b Courage

Courage overrides self-doubt, but does not end it.

-Mason Cooley (b. 1927)

Courage is the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables you to face danger or fear with self-possession, confidence, and resolution. Courage enables us to overcome these fears that can overcome us in a survival situation. Each time we encounter danger or fear and overcome it, we strengthen our courage.

It is important to realize the difference between fear and panic. Fear has a purpose. It is the mind’s tool to pool all available resources. Panic on the other hand, is an unreasonable, overwhelming, and uncontrollable fear that can be one’s worst enemy in a survival situation.

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A.1.c Determination

Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen

-Peter Marshall (1902–67)

Stories about those who did not survive are usually founded on the idea that the would-be survivor did not realize they had it in them to carry on just a little further. Physically, the human body will rise to the occasion and call upon itself when needed. Many survival case histories show determination alone was the only factor in the successful return of the survivor.

Determination in thinking leads to quick, decisive action as you may have to act quickly. This excerpt to one survivor’s story is evidence of determination:

The shore was about 50 yards away, but I experienced extreme difficulty in swimming due to the incoming tide. Several times, I had to turn on my back and try to float and propel myself with only my feet. It was only with extreme effort that I was able to make the shore. Upon reaching it, I was completely exhausted and in a state of partial shock, but forced myself to go on.

A.1.d Cheerfulness

Mirth is like a flash of lightning that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.

-Joseph Addison (1672–1719)

A strong sense of humor is instrumental in influencing the outcome of any survival situation. The ability to use humor and stay cheerful in a stressful situation will help the survivor withstand the anxieties and apprehensiveness of the situation.

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A.1.e Positiveness

Success goes thus invariably with a certain plus or positive power: an ounce of power must balance an ounce of weight.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Being positive helps the survivor make the best of the situation. Thoughts of failure will hinder the survivor’s ability to make sound and clear decisions.

Self-fulfilling prophecies are usually manifested from negative thoughts and attitudes. Failure is inevitable when one believes there is no hope in sight.

Self-discipline, adaptability, and tolerance all play parts in being positive in a survival scenario.

A.1.f Flexibility

Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.

-George Lois Athletes base their performance on being flexible as part of their overall fitness. Coast Guard personnel also maintain high levels of fitness to perform their duties. Flexibility is also a mental process. Being mentally flexible means having an open mind and the ability to act in a unique, creative and imaginative manner.

A.1.g Willingness

Nothing is easy to the unwilling.

-Yolanda Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni (b.1960)

Many studies suggest we avoid psychological pain and discomfort to a greater extent than we do physical pain. In most cases, freedom from mental stress is more important than those that are physical. Willingness is the ability to make decisions and a readiness to act even when the situation seems hopeless.

A.1.h Purpose

The secret of success is constancy of purpose.

-Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield Disraeli (1804–1881)

Setting realistic goals (both near-term and long-term) and achieving them drives our sense of purpose. In a survival scenario, goal setting has a high survival value. Goal setting is a motivator, and as such, generates a will to live.

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A.1.i Attentiveness

If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent.

- Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)

One of the most dangerous aspects of Coast Guard life is being unprepared.

Mental preparedness, whether it be for jogging around a track, executing a patrol mission, or finding oneself in an open water survival situation is absolutely key to efficient planning and effective mental attitude.

A.1.j Confidence

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.

-Rosalynn Carter (b. 1927)

Being properly trained is key in preparing for any situation. The skills and knowledge we obtain from training yields one important side-affect:

Confidence. Confidence can only be built through repetition and experience.

A.1.k Productiveness

Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person.

-Dr. David M. Burns

Keeping busy can also increase the chance of survival. Humans are social creatures, and teamed with loneliness and boredom can undermine the productive nature that is extremely important in a survival situation.

Keeping the mind and body active will help to concentrate on the act of survival.

A.1.l Persistence

He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor.

-Menander (342 BC - 292 BC)

The will to survive is fundamentally based on persistence. Emotionally, the survivor needs to stay active in spite of the situation. The chance of survival is greatest during the first 24 hours after the mishap and even after 24 hours it is not time to give up. Concentrate on those items left behind. Family, friends, and personal goals will once again be met and achieved.

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A.1.m Certainty

He is no wise man that will quit a certainty for an uncertainty.

-Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

The will to survive is inevitably dependent on the survivor’s ability to remain certain that they will once again return to family, friends and co-workers.

Those who have survived in the past have not depended on luck or magic, they have depended on the mental skills presented above and on the equipment and procedures presented in the chapters that follow.

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A.2 Human Elements

A.2.a Human Elements

Human Factors play an important role in survival situations. This section provides detail on such areas of Human Factors as:

Strength and Endurance Skill Level Intelligence Age and Gender Personal Experience

A.2.b Strength and Endurance

Coast Guard physical fitness standards are required to ensure crewmembers have sufficient strength, flexibility, and endurance to safely perform duties during normal and adverse conditions. These standards will also have a positive impact if a crewmember is exposed to cold, wet environments. The combination of rough seas, cold temperatures and wet conditions can quickly cause the crew to become less effective.

Physical fitness increases the ability to maintain a higher degree of thermoregulation between the skin and vital organs. However, high levels of body fat can increase the potential for survival in cold, wet environments.

Increased body fat acts similar to extra layers of clothing in that it adds more protection to vital organs.

If the crewmember is able to get out of the water and into a life raft, or some other floatation device, survival will be highly dependent on the air temperature and wind velocity as well as their ability to sustain shivering.

However, this state will decrease the rate of heat loss considerably due to the conductivity of air being less than that of water.

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A.2.c Skill Levels

All tasks require a certain skill level. The required skill level is a function of the situational demands and the experience of the operator. Exposure to a cold, wet environment also has an effect on a person’s skill level. As core temperature decreases to 93˚F (34˚C), cognitive and motor functions become impaired. Skilled performance can be categorized into three levels: Skill-based level, Rule-based level, and Knowledge-based level.

Skill-based level is when highly automated sensory-motor and cognitive performances and takes place without conscious control.

This level of behavior is the final level to be affected by exposure to cold, wet environments.

At the Rule-based level an action is selected by activating in working memory a hierarchy of rules. Such rules may have been derived empirically during previous occasions, by instruction or by conscious problem solving and planning. Information from the environment is used to select or modify these rules. Rule-based level behavior is the second level of behavior that is affected by exposure to cold, wet environments.

Knowledge-based level behavior is evoked when entirely new, unstructured, or complex problems are encountered. At this level, the individual uses meaningful concepts or physical properties to make decisions. Decision-making involves the identification of options or alternatives, assessing their relative attractiveness, assessing the likelihood of being realized, and integration of considerations to identify what appears to be the best option. Knowledge-based level behavior is the first level of behavior that is affected by exposure to cold, wet environments.

A.2.d Intelligence

Memory capacity plays an important role in open water survival situations.

The rate at which we process cognitively (mental storage, retrieval, and manipulation) is not only a function of general intelligence but of individual aptitude as well. The better a survivor learns and acquires new information, the higher the probability of rescue.

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A.2.e Age and Gender

Aging is widely thought to compromise body temperature defense during cold exposure. Controlled laboratory comparisons show that older men may be less able than younger men to defend core temperature during cold exposures. Heat production due to shivering may also be less in older than younger men due to the reduction of muscle mass. These aging effects begin to be apparent after about 45 years of age in men. Older women defend core temperature during cold exposure as well as, or better than younger women;

this is due to body composition changes attributable to aging. Older women tend to have more body fat than younger women, which accounts for impaired, as well as improved, thermoregulatory responses to cold environments.

Gender related differences in body size, body shape and composition contribute to a difference in cold tolerance between men and women, which is particularly apparent in cold water. Most women have greater body-fat content than men of comparable age. A thicker subcutaneous fat layer accounts for greater maximal tissue insulation and lower critical water temperature. Despite this difference, however, greater body-fat content may not provide women with a thermoregulatory advantage over men.

When women and men of equivalent subcutaneous fat thickness are compared, the women have a greater surface area and smaller total body mass. Although insulation is equivalent, women’s total heat loss is greater due to the larger surface area. Because of their smaller body mass, body heat content is less in the women. Therefore body temperature falls more rapidly for any given thermal gradient and metabolic rate.

Comparison of men and women with equivalent total body masses shows that women still seem to be at a disadvantage in the cold. In this case, women’s greater body-fat content enhances insulation, and surface area differences between genders are not as pronounced. Nevertheless, a smaller lean body mass limits a women’s capacity for heat production, compared to men of comparable total body mass. However, under colder conditions that stimulate shivering the limited thermogenic capacity of women will result in a more rapid decline in their core temperature than in men of equivalent total body mass.

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Section B. Health and Hygiene

Overview This section contains information on medical issues in survival settings.

Medical problems encountered in the open water are perhaps the only variable that has the most profound effect on the survivor’s ability to be rescued successfully. Injuries can occur at any point—egress from the vessel, in open sea, boarding the raft, even during the rescue process.

This chapter identifies the first aid, health, hygiene and nourishment aspects of survival.

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B.1 Survival First Aid

B.1.a Check for Injury

Proper administration of first aid is key in any survival scenario. Each survival situation is usually the result of a catastrophic event that could have resulted in injury to one or all of the survivors. After all personnel are accounted for, those in charge must check their own body before tending to the injuries of others. Triage and evaluation, considering those injured the worst, must begin immediately. If possible, those with medical training should be primary responders with others offering support as needed.

Injury, including blood loss or other physical trauma can decrease the ability to shiver. It is important that any blood loss be restricted immediately to help slow this potential decrease. Individuals can generally tolerate blood loss of up to 15% without inducing major harm, while shock is likely to occur when blood loss reaches 40%.

CAUTION !

B.1.b Control of Bleeding

With the majority of survival situations being the result of mishaps, bleeding is one of the most dangerous injuries that can occur in a survival situation.

Severe wounds can cause a survivor to bleed to death in a relatively short period of time. There are several things that can be done to stop bleeding and prevent further blood loss:

Elevate and apply direct pressure to the wound. Use sterile dressing found in most first aid kits. If sterile dressing is not available, use any other means to apply pressure including the bare hand.

Elevate and apply pressure to the pressure points of the body.

For last resort measures, apply a tourniquet around the limb just above the wound. This should be done ONLY if there is no other means for stopping blood flow. DO NOT release the tourniquet after it has been applied. Standard first aid measures suggest the time of application be written somewhere near the location of the tourniquet or on the forehead.

INTERNAL BLEEDING IS DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE IN THE FIELD.

TREATMENT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO KEEPING THE PERSON

WARM AND PREVENTING UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT.

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B.2 Health Aspects

B.2.a Burns

The goal in treating burns is to prevent infection. Keep burned area as clean as possible and use the burn remedies supplied in the first aid kit. Keeping the body protected will also reduce the risk of sunburn, the most common burn among open water survivors.

B.2.b Dehydration

In most survival situations on open water, fresh drinking water will be scarce. Every effort must be made to conserve the water in your body.

Dehydration is brought on by the loss of body fluids precipitated by:

diarrhea, vomiting, perspiration, urination, and lack of available drinking water

Anything that can be done to prevent the loss of fluids in the body should be adhered to. Rainwater is a good source of drinking water, so every effort to collect rainwater must be made.

B.2.c Shock

Shock is a real threat in most traumatic situations with severe injury. Shock is difficult to diagnose, however, if shock is suspected, treat in the best possible manner. Lie the survivor down with the lower body elevated. Body temperature should be maintained as close to normal as possible. Encourage the survivor to rest and remain quiet.

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B.3 Personal Hygiene

B.3.a Cleanliness

In a survival scenario, cleanliness is essential for the prevention of infection.

Skin being the body’s first line of defense, must be cared for attentively.

Keep the hands clean using saltwater. Soap is not critical in keeping clean.

Keep fingernails short as scratches breed infection.

B.3.b Laundering

Launder clothing if possible. Clean clothes help prevent infections and chafing.

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B.4 Nourishment

B.4.a Collection

Most survival kits have adequate nourishment for 24 hours. It is important to begin the search for food and water immediately to supplement this supply.

Food or others forms of nutrition should be consumed if at all possible. If deprived of nutrition and/or fatigued, metabolism will decrease. This decrease will affect the level of endurance that can be maintained.

B.4.b Water Collection

Canned or bagged water may be supplied in your raft’s survival kit;

however, other sources of water should be used first. Watch the skies for clouds that may provide rainwater. Using available collection means (e.g., containers, tarps, etc) be ready to capture the rainfall. Store the water by any means possible, drink only to re-hydrate, and provide to others.

SEAWATER, FISH BLOOD, AND URINE SHOULD NEVER BE

CONSUMED AS HYDRATION MEANS. FISH BLOOD CAN BE

USED AS A FOOD SOURCE WHEN AMPLE WATER SUPPLY IS

AVAILABLE.

NEVER EAT INTESTINES, EGGS, OR LIVER. DO NOT EAT

SEAWEED THAT IS SLIMY, HAS THORNS, OR AIR BLADDERS

(EXCEPT KELP).

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B.4.c Food Collection

Historically, open water survivors have been known to go several days and at times weeks with little or no food. Food provides energy and sustainment to carry out other tasks. Beginning early in the survival situation, the following should be considered:

Sources. Most fish, birds, plankton, sea weed are all good food sources.

Clothing and other items at the survivor’s disposal can provide means for catching sea life. Some marine life characteristics that should be avoided are depicted in Figure 2-1: Marine Life to Avoid and generally include:

Fish, birds, sea weed with foul odor and taste.

Fish with external spines.

Fish with slimy gills.

Fish with sunken eyes.

Fish with flabby skin or skin that remains indented after being pressed with a finger.

Examples of marine life that should be avoided:

Portugese Sea Anenome Cone Snail Scorpion Man-O-War Fish

Barracuda Needlefish Shark Sting Ray

Drawings courtesy of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association

Figure 2-1: Marine Life to Avoid

In all cases, clean and gut immediately upon capture. Inspect for worms and eat raw. Fish can be preserved by cutting the flesh into small strips and lay them on the raft’s exterior to dry in the sun.

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Section C. Environmental Factors and Survivability

Overview Recent technological advances have shortened the duration survivors spend in the open water. Search and rescue equipment, personnel training, and optimally designed equipment (as described in previous sections) have all attributed to increased successes in survivor recovery.

However, the possibility of extended open water survival still exists. Being mentally prepared, using Coast Guard approved and correctly maintained equipment will increase your chances for survival.

Time is critical when forced to enter cold water. The loss of body heat is the greatest danger to survival in open water. Critical factors that increase the threat of hypothermia and other cold water injuries include:

Sea State Water Temperature Air Temperature Weather and Time of Day Proximity to Land Improper Use of Survival…