Safety Walk – Newcomers On The Boat

/ Ben Starling

The ‘Safety Walk’ – introducing newcomers to your boat

I like keeping the Can Opener safe. And all our friends and visitors to the boat safe too.

We’ve always moved from the stern to the bow as we walked newcomers through the boat and introduced them to the safety and emergency items aboard in that order. It’s an okay method, but the Can Opener and I realised it still leaves room for some little thing to be forgotten. And that’s not okay.

So last night, I had the First Mate type up a formal and full list of things to show newcomers to the boat. Safety things. Those things you don’t really want to think about – but absolutely must. 

Best to think about them when everything is calm, organised and at the dock. And when everyone is fresh and focused.

In order to be super methodical, we ordered the Safety Walk topics under the following headings: fire, flood, famine, float and first aid.  

Here’s what we are going to show newcomers to the boat and in the following order:

 
Fire

  • fire extinguisher locations 
    • one by the galley
    • one in each cabin and 
    • an automatic one in the engine compartment (or if you do not have an automatic, then the extinguisher should be held nearby the engine compartment)
  • fire blanket (near galley)
  • smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  • bucket/s
  • flares
  • torch (flashlight) locations

 
Flood

  • bilges
  • bilge pumps
    • auto 
    • manual
  • seacocks & bungs
  • loo operation

  
Famine

  • food location
  • water location
  • victual plan (when the food rations will be doled out)
  • how to turn on the stove & propane safety

 
Float

  • life jackets & tethers – how to put them on how to use them (hint: all the time. Research shows life jackets only work when they are worn!)
  • jack lines
  • life raft
  • life ring
  • danbuoy
  • heaving lines
  • paddles
  • rescue sling
  • Crew Overboard procedure

  
First Aid

  • first aid kit – what’s in it, where to find it
Safety is our number one priority. All else follows from there. 
And having a list for the Safety Walk gives us something we can easily convert to a Safety Equipment Checklist. Something to refer to, to make sure on a regular basis that everything is up to date and in good order.
Any other suggestions for additions to our Safety Walk routine as we bring newcomers aboard the boat?  What else can we add? What has worked best for you?
–Captain Cat 
(transcribed by the Can Opener)

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