It's been close to 10 Years since I was an Emergency Medical Technician or Volunteer Fireman and it has been 11 years since we lost Jamie Boeckel overboard on Blue Yankee and although I like to toe the line and occasionally push the limits I always maintain my own personal safety protocols. Safety is something that was instilled in me from a young age by my father and something that needs to be discussed and practiced. After a few discussions with friend and Edgartown Fireman and Paramedic Andy Kelly we decided to coordinate the first Kiteboarding Rescue Drill between island watermen and Edgartown Rescue Personnel.
I had two goals for this initial drill. One, to educate Rescue Personnel on how to keep themselves and their equipment safe during a response to an emergency and secondly to promote a discussion between kiteboarders and rescue personnel.
The Kiteboarders included Bill Lynch, Mike Zadeh, Nevin Sayre and myself while the Edgartown Personnel numbered well above 20 including
Fire Chief Peter Shemeth, Assistant Chief Alex Schaeffer as well as Police Chief Tony Bettencourt and Sergeant Craig Edwards as well as other members of the Police Department. Overall it was great to see such a large turnout from the town and it spoke volumes to the dedication of our Fire and Police Departments.
The entire group assembled on South Beach on a foggy sunday morning and after some brief introductions we split into small groups to rig the Kiteboarding gear and allow all Rescue Personnel to handle the equipment and see how it all went together. Once the gear was rigged and everyone had checked out Nevin Sayre launched his kite and demonstrated the power abilities of the kite as well as handling. We were able to easily demonstrate the danger zones for the Rescue Teams and to impress upon them the importance of alway approaching the kite and kiter from upwind so as to stay well clear of any lines in the event of a rapid relaunch.
I had two goals for this initial drill. One, to educate Rescue Personnel on how to keep themselves and their equipment safe during a response to an emergency and secondly to promote a discussion between kiteboarders and rescue personnel.
The Kiteboarders included Bill Lynch, Mike Zadeh, Nevin Sayre and myself while the Edgartown Personnel numbered well above 20 including
Fire Chief Peter Shemeth, Assistant Chief Alex Schaeffer as well as Police Chief Tony Bettencourt and Sergeant Craig Edwards as well as other members of the Police Department. Overall it was great to see such a large turnout from the town and it spoke volumes to the dedication of our Fire and Police Departments.
The entire group assembled on South Beach on a foggy sunday morning and after some brief introductions we split into small groups to rig the Kiteboarding gear and allow all Rescue Personnel to handle the equipment and see how it all went together. Once the gear was rigged and everyone had checked out Nevin Sayre launched his kite and demonstrated the power abilities of the kite as well as handling. We were able to easily demonstrate the danger zones for the Rescue Teams and to impress upon them the importance of alway approaching the kite and kiter from upwind so as to stay well clear of any lines in the event of a rapid relaunch.
Nevin Sayre from BIC North America
After discussing the initial approach from upwind we then began to move into discussing scenarios about what a Kiter in trouble might look like, how his kite might be reacting, and what his signals that he is in trouble would be. We demonstrated the Chicken Loop Quick Release on the North 5th Element bar, the Cabrinha bar as well as the BEST RP Bar V3. We also discussed the different Harness types as well as the easiest ways to remove them.
After nearly an hour and a half we packed up our gear walked back to the vehicles. The conversation quickly turned to the what the different scenarios might be, what directions brought us to which locations and why. The Police and Fire Departments couldn't have been more enthusiastic and supportive of what we were doing and how they could play a role in keeping us safe. The town has recently purchased a new Rescue Vessel http://www.mvtimes.com/2012/12/05/edgartown-philanthropist-rescue-new-boat-13593/ and in speaking with them they like myself are eager to evaluate our current safety protocols and work together to create a new standard.
I am extremely thankful to all Edgartown Fire and Police for coming out and I look forward to our next collaboration.
After nearly an hour and a half we packed up our gear walked back to the vehicles. The conversation quickly turned to the what the different scenarios might be, what directions brought us to which locations and why. The Police and Fire Departments couldn't have been more enthusiastic and supportive of what we were doing and how they could play a role in keeping us safe. The town has recently purchased a new Rescue Vessel http://www.mvtimes.com/2012/12/05/edgartown-philanthropist-rescue-new-boat-13593/ and in speaking with them they like myself are eager to evaluate our current safety protocols and work together to create a new standard.
I am extremely thankful to all Edgartown Fire and Police for coming out and I look forward to our next collaboration.
Nevin and I demonstrate the Chicken Loop Quick Release
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