2009 PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR OFFSHORE SAILORS

March 29, 2009 M.I.T. Cambridge, MA

Course Location MAP

SCHEDULE

0800 - 1000 Offshore Medical Emergency Procedures

Dr. Edwin (“Garry”) Fischer, Course Leader

Dr. Fischer, a practicing neurosurgeon and Fleet Surgeon of the CCA will lead seven specialist physicians to address the management of offshore injuries and illnesses. The physicians will discuss emergency treatment options designed to stabilize the patient while calling for further assistance.

The two hour session will consist of presentations by the panelists on topics that include sea sickness, hypothermia, dehydration, extremity injuries, head and neck injuries, surgical problems, medical conditions, the dangers of sun exposure, pain control and suggestions of appropriate medicines to have on board, followed by an open question and answer period. Handouts will be available.

Dr. Fischer is a very experienced racer and offshore sailor with several Trans Atlantic crossings under his belt, and has run an advanced medical program for the Newport Bermuda Race.

• Where: Stratton Student Center - MIT
• Cost: $50 per person
• Maximum Capacity: 100 People

1030 – 1200 CPR Review Program

Garry and Leslie Schneider, Instructors

Your instructors are EMT’s, who also have WFR (Wilderness First Responder) and WEMT (Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician) training. Their experience includes 30 years with National Ski Patrol, 12 years with Peninsula Ambulance, and 16 years as Basic Life Support instructors for American Heart Association. Garry is a member of the CCA, and they have offered a similar review at prior Safety at Sea sessions in Newport, RI. Experienced physicians will be available to assist in the training if sufficient interest is indicated.

While the "new" emphasis from American Heart is on compressions as the most important part of CPR, we will also be emphasizing opening the airway and rescue breathing as these may be the most critical skills required in treating a near drowning victim.

Please note this is a review course and no CPR card will be issued. This is to be a "review" of CPR as it pertains to near drowning patients in an off shore situation.

• Where: Stratton Student Center - MIT
• Cost: $35 per person
• Maximum Capacity: 75 People

1030 - 1445: Understanding Weather

Bill Biewenga, Instructor

Weather is one of the more important considerations to enjoyable and efficient sailing. Gain the knowledge and tools needed to predict short term weather and optimize your sailing performance whether en route to Bermuda or Halifax or on an extended cruise.

The weather seminar is presented by Bill Biewenga, one of America's most accomplished sailors. Bill has over 320,000 sea miles including 26 transatlantic crossings, several Trans-Pac’s, numerous record attempts, deliveries and races, as well as participation in four around the world races. As a photojournalist, Bill has written over 300 articles in more than 20 magazines around the world, the author of Weather for Sailors published by North U. and a marine consultant for Commander's Weather.

Areas of interest will include:

1. How to read surface analysis charts
2. Reading the clouds and wind direction
3. Weather routing strategies for optimizing race performance and safety
4. Storm systems
5. Local effects
6. How to collect weather information and verify its accuracy
7. Most importantly, how to use it to help make informed decisions

Note: Special addition to the Weather agenda.
1500 - 1600: The Gulf Stream Explained

Jenifer Clark will present information about the Gulf Stream and how to plan your strategy to take advantage of the currents. Jenifer is well known in racing circles for her Gulf Stream expertise. Read her Biography.
There is no additional charge for this presentation.



• Where: Stratton Student Center - MIT
• Cost: $75 per person
• Maximum Capacity: 75 People

1500 - 1800 In-Water Skills and Emergency Course

Dan O'Connor of Life Raft and Survival Equipment, Inc., Instructor

This module will be presented by Dan O’Conner – a licensed and experienced instructor of Merchant Mariners. This Module will include theory review, plus hands-on, in-the-water exercises with and without lifejackets and in-the-water inflation & boarding of a life raft including righting an overturned raft.  Additional in-the-water drills are held with throw ropes, life slings, signal mirrors and other signaling devices.  Hypothermia is described and ‘keep warm’ exercises practiced.  Emergency Communications transmissions will be covered. Conducted by a USCG Certified instructor using ISAF approved curriculum.

Topics to be covered include:

1. Emergency responses and seven steps to survival
2. Survival Kit necessities
3. Immediate and delayed onset emergencies
4. Cold water survival skills
5. PFD care and usage
6. Boarding a life raft
7. Abandon ship preparation
8. Proper release, righting, and boarding survival craft
9. Improving life raft stability

This training will not qualify for the full ISAF certification because we are only doing the in water exercises.*

• Where: Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center - MIT
• Cost: $100 per person
• Maximum Capacity: 20 people. In the case of oversubscription preference will be given to participants who are actually racing in 2009.

* For those who wish to continue the hands on training to receive their complete ISAF certification an additional course is scheduled at Life Raft and Survival Equipment company facilities (Portsmouth, RI) on Saturday, April 11. It will cover the remaining material for the Hands On Training as outlined in Appendix G of the offshore rules of sailing. This will take place in the morning. In case there are participants who were not able to complete the pool session at MIT we will arrange to repeat the rest of the course's in water training in the afternoon of Saturday, April 11.
Please make arrangements to take the morning course and/or the afternoon course by contacting Dan O'Connor by email: dan@lrse.com

If you have questions, please send an email to the following address: symposium@marionbermuda.com