PONTELAND
JUNIOR HEAD SAFETY PROCEDURES
GENERAL
1. Any breaches of these procedures must be
notified in the first instance to the Head Secretary, who will then notify the
Safety Adviser, the competitors concerned and in due course their Clubs.
2. This procedure concerns safety on the River Tyne
only between just upriver of the White House, Ryton
and the Stella bend. On the bank, the procedure concerns activities at the
rowing clubs between the same points, the marshalling/start areas and the
finish area. Any incidents outside this definition will be dealt with at the
discretion of the Head Officials if Head safety is not prejudiced.
3. Ponteland Junior Head takes place with the
knowledge and co-operation of the
4. This procedure must be read in conjunction with the
map of the course and race instructions, which will be supplied to each
competing Club. A large scale map will be on display at Tyne Rowing Club. The
location of launches and marshals are shown on the map supplied to each Club.
5. St. John’s Ambulance Brigade staff will be on
continuous alert in the back room upstairs at Tyne Rowing Club and will remain
stationed there as an aid station until the end of the event. Further services
will be called for at their or the Medical Advisers discretion.
6. Three or more safety launches, each with 2 crew, will be on the course whilst competitors embark
and during racing. Launches will be equipped with rescue kit and radio
communications.
7. Riverbank Marshals will have radio
communications & loudhailers, some will also have
mobile telephone communication. They will be clearly identifiable as they will
be wearing yellow tabards.
RESPONSIBILITIES
COMPETITORS:
All competing Clubs have the responsibility to ensure that their crews and scullers abide by the A.R.A. Code of Water Safety. In particular, all Clubs must ensure that:
·
Equipment is safe and secure; bow balls, heel restraints and other
safety measures are in place.
·
Coxswains are suitably dressed for spring weather conditions and wear
adequate lifejackets.
·
Inexperienced crews have experienced coxswains.
·
Competitors are aware of the water safety code, the race instructions
and have been instructed in capsize drill.
·
Competitors are competent to take part in the event without putting
other people at risk.
Any competitor found by marshals or launches
to be without safety equipment will not be permitted to boat or, if already on
the water, will be asked to return directly to the landing stages. Competitors
are responsible for proceeding safely at all times, especially to the start and
after the finish.
COMPETITORS SHOULD ENSURE THAT ANY INCIDENT IS MADE KNOWN TO A LAUNCH OR A MARSHAL. THEY SHOULD STOP RACING TO GIVE ASSISTANCE IF SOMEONE IS IN DANGER IN THE WATER AND A LAUNCH IS NOT APPROACHING.
EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES
1.
INCIDENTS ON THE WATER
In general all incidents on the water should be dealt with by the attendance of a launch. When the launch has arrived at the incident, the launch driver will be regarded as “in charge” of that incident. All other radio users should maintain radio silence except for answering or relaying the drivers messages.
The possible courses of action for the launch driver
could be:
a) if
the competitors are capable, they may be allowed to continue racing.
b) the boat and competitors may be
taken to a suitable place for recovery, by the launch or from the bank
c) bank
help may be called to the place of recovery.
d) emergency services may be called.
In all cases the launch should inform all officials of the outcome and when ready to do so “clear” the radio.
2.
ENCROACHING VESSELS
Launches or marshals should ensure that other officials know of any vessels not part of the Head which appear on the course during racing. If possible they should be requested to keep off the line of racing.
3.
INCIDENTS ON THE BANK
The nearest Marshal will call for any advice and assistance necessary.
On hearing an emergency call, all other users must maintain radio silence until the emergency is “cleared” unless providing material facts. However the nearest Marshal will decide on the need or otherwise to suspend racing. If he/she so decides all launches and marshals must immediately stop any crews upstream of the emergency.
4. FIRST AID
·
The First Aid station will be based in the back room upstairs at Tyne
Rowing Club.
·
The Honorary Medical Adviser (Peter Hoare) will be based at Tyne Rowing
Club and in contact via radio or mobile telephone should assistance be
required.
·
There is a telephone located in the back room upstairs in Tyne Rowing
Club (0191 267 3827) and both the Safety Adviser (David Robinson - 07986
697262) and/or Head Secretary (Peter Hoare - 07811 737620) may be contacted in
emergencies on the day by mobile telephone.
·
In addition to carrying radios, each launch will have a mobile phone
with which to contact the emergency services.
Revised: 4 April 2005