Flare training???

[HDAV]

Just watching some "deadliest catch" and seen them doing safety training before going to see including "flare training" basically standing with the trainer from US coast guard and letting off a flare.

I have never let off a flare and hope i never have to but just like first training its better to know what to expect then get a nasty surprise....

Anywhere in the UK can release a flare? Or do you just inform the coast guard and let rip?

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/firing-f...ighlight=flare

[ShinyShoe]

Don't just let them know.

They used to have some demo / training sessions - check with your local CG if they do. Although I think that might have stopped due to H&S... ...they have a nasty habit of burning people...

Cue SPR...

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Don't just let them know.

They used to have some demo / training sessions - check with your local CG if they do. Although I think that might have stopped due to H&S... ...they have a nasty habit of burning people...

Cue SPR...

Thats why knowing the correct way to release them and some practise would be a good idea!

[gtb]

We got to light up hand-held flares as part of the sea survival course with Stormforce. They had a bunch of out of date flares to try (a number failed to ignite successfully), and we did it at the Shamrock Quay Marina in Soton with proper safety gear (goggles, gloves, etc).

I don't know what prior arrangements were made, but I recall the instructor phoned the CG before and after. Being a training school probably helped, not sure what the CG would say to Joe Public.

Like this

[m chappelow]

Pains Wessex - RNLI Training Video - YouTube

This may give you some idea on what they do ,
Should you ever need to set one off just remember to keep away from the face & to let them off down wind especially in a rib, inflatable or liferaft last thing you want is burning dross setting fire to you boat or yourself ,
also not a bad idea to keep a thick leather glove or gauntlet in the flare box for protection .

[MustRib]

thanks for posting this

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Thats why knowing the correct way to release them and some practise would be a good idea!

Yeh but I think even with all the safety gear people still get injured practising...

You'll also notice those are practice red handhelds (SPR - where are you you are missing out on a opportunity!!) - rather than rockets. If you think a handheld is dangerous try standing in the line of fire of a rocket...

White is not a distress colour - although I'd imagine joe public dont know that. So a call to CG would still be a good idea. But all are expensive.

If only there was some modern alternative... either that could bounce a message off a satelite to a base station rather than relying on someone watching out for a flare or maybe using some LED/Laser technology that didn't involve a ball of fire... ...anyone?

[Pikey Dave]

We have "disposed" of out of date flares on Nov5th, but we are inland 60miles from the sea. I suffered 2nd degree burns from a rocket flare that exploded in the tube, it was a couple of months out of date & of Italian manufacture, sold in the UK & CE marked. I have made a policy decision not to replace my flares with pyros, but rely on the multitude of electronic alternatives now available. For me, the pyro flare has had its day.

[Tony B]

If I really needed a flare, like while sinking, a few burns would not be my biggest concern.
As for electronics, they are great, no doubt, but to miss the opportunity of a rescue from someone a half mile away because he had his electronics off, I'm not sure about that.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Tony B

If I really needed a flare, like while sinking, a few burns would not be my biggest concern.
As for electronics, they are great, no doubt, but to miss the opportunity of a rescue from someone a half mile away because he had his electronics off, I'm not sure about that.

There is the laser flare...

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Tony B

If I really needed a flare, like while sinking, a few burns would not be my biggest concern.
As for electronics, they are great, no doubt, but to miss the opportunity of a rescue from someone a half mile away because he had his electronics off, I'm not sure about that.

If someone half a mile away from me was sinking, I'd probably notice, flare or no flare.

[SPR]

did I here my name being called !

www.rescue-flares.co.uk

RNLI stopped doing flare demos a few years ago - after a one exploded in a certain helpers hand, and burned my jacket and bruised my leg.

Oops - trying to keep that objective.

S.







www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk

[AJ.]

The laser flares are good tested one at night (live in the midlands) can be seen a bl00dy long way, that's all I have in way of flares have PLB, mobile VHF with DSC, fixed VHF with DSC and usually a few mobiles if in company on different networks


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[AJ.]

Plus when you are at home the cats go crazy trying to catch it!


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[SPR]

in case of emergency - mobile phone will lock on any network - so different network is not an issue for 999 or 112 calls - so even if no signal on phone try calling !

Free case offer on Rescue Laser Flare I bought by RIBnet member still valid.

S.


www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I suffered 2nd degree burns from a rocket flare that exploded in the tube, it was a couple of months out of date & of Italian manufacture, sold in the UK & CE marked. I have made a policy decision not to replace my flares with pyros, but rely on the multitude of electronic alternatives now available. For me, the pyro flare has had its day.

Aren't they a legal requirement?

Until Galileo is fully operational.... might be a chance not worth taking.

European ground stations enable Galileo search and rescue testing / Navigation / Our Activities / ESA

Detailed Cospas-Sarsat System Description - International COSPAS-SARSAT

Originally Posted by SPR

did I here my name being called !

www.rescue-flares.co.uk

RNLI stopped doing flare demos a few years ago - after a one exploded in a certain helpers hand, and burned my jacket and bruised my leg.

Oops - trying to keep that objective.

S.
www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk

No good in daylight though....... but seem a great idea.

[MustRib]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Aren't they a legal requirement?

Until Galileo is fully operational.... might be a chance not worth taking.

European ground stations enable Galileo search and rescue testing / Navigation / Our Activities / ESA

Detailed Cospas-Sarsat System Description - International COSPAS-SARSAT

If your referring to DASS it wont be operational until 2017/2018 at the earliest
although enhanced beacons may well be hitting the marketplace in the next year or so.
Either way there is full compatibility with existing PLB's so really no reason to
wait if contemplating a Beacon purchase.
IMO they should be on everyone's lifejacket
(always assuming you wear one of course ).
Even with a Beacon there is room on the boat for a flare - laser and good old flash and bang.
In a crowded Solent I could see a case where a flare may get peoples attention pretty quickly in an emergency.
Good safety kit costs money. If you need to use it, you will be very pleased you paid for it.
The more I read about SAR, the more I understand that there is still an element
of luck and chance in all rescues, and gradually technology
is being developed to try and remove that chance factor.
As the OP was asking about training,
giving yourself effective safety kit and training should be a priority.
I endorse any kind of training and technology
that will make our passion for boats safer and stress free.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Aren't they a legal requirement? Nope

Until Galileo is fully operational.... might be a chance not worth taking.

European ground stations enable Galileo search and rescue testing / Navigation / Our Activities / ESA

Detailed Cospas-Sarsat System Description - International COSPAS-SARSAT


AIS/DSC not satellite dependant, good old VHF

406mHz PLB uses established Cospas network & is proven to work, ask MustRib, he knows




No good in daylight though....... Really? but seem a great idea.

All the electronic systems available today are testable & use a spread of different technology. Flares, on the other hand- you don't know if they'll work until the brown stuff is hitting the air mover & the rusty bullet hole is nipping 10 to the dozen, at that point, you're expected to fire this potentially fatal device into the air & hope that someone sees it in the 45 seconds or so that it's active. If someone does see it, lets hope that they have the nous & gumption to do something about it... what you need is a load of retired types sitting in their clifftop retirement homes with binoculars, looking out to sea 24/7...Oh! hold on..........

[ashbypower]

Mmm all so well and good relying on the electronic stuff. I Know 4 people who were NEVER rescued even though they had the electronic Gizmo's !!

[kerny]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Mmm all so well and good relying on the electronic stuff. I Know 4 people who were NEVER rescued even though they had the electronic Gizmo's !!

Did they ever find that big passenger plane... you know that malaysian one ???