offshore survival practical

The offshore survival practical is the second part of the so called course. It needs to be done as well if you want to have the certification and then be able to enter any offshore rig.

I did it yesterday morning.

The place was the swimming pool of one of the best hotel in Kish. The eram hotel.
I had to be here at 9h00,I was at 9h15 because of communication problem with the driver.He does not speak a single word in english. I thought that he knows at least the basics but not really actually.So, I said him to drive me to the swimming pool. I did very simple and said him "pool".He started to drive and after 10 minutes he stopped me in front of a bank and started looking me.

"hmmm whats up " I was thinking.

After giving a call to my supervisor he eventually drove to the correct place.Later on i knew that "pool" in persian means money...

Back to the course itself.Arriving to the pool, just time to wear the coverall and the lifejacket.
We learnt how to " jump " in the sea in case of emergency evacuation.we also learnt how to make a line in the sea in order to minimize swimming efforts. After that instructor shew us how to step
into a life raft, how to properly approach a rescue boat.

the best was for the end : jumping into cold water.there was a small pool with water around 8 Deg C. Instructor told us to jump in it because most of the sea in the world are not really hot.I was the younger so they designated me as a first. I put first my leg inside in order to check ( even if in real condition , you can not touch the water before jumping in it). it was bloody cold.Then I jumped .... at the moment I was totally immerged I thought that I was dying. Its an awfull feeling because your heart suddenly got a shock and maybe pass from 100 beats per minutes to 200 . I could not breathe... it took maybe 5 minutes to calm down my breathe but the water was still cold.
Then instructor shew us how to keep the body heat with another guy.

we finish this session in a jaccuzzi in order to recover from this thermal shock.

I can not guarranty that I will remember everything I learnt during this offshore survival course but at least I know now that they are lying in Titanic movie. the water was around 1 or 2 Deg C. So I can not believe that this guy had time to do whatever in the sea when the titanic sank!!

R
PS: no PS for this post

offshore survival : life bouy and vomit bag

Done !

I am officially an offshore survivor. I mean, now I am able to surive in offshore environment in case of accident.
well this is what the certificate I got means...

Offshore survival is a mandatory one day course you have to take before going to an offshore rig.It is composed by 2 parts : the theory and the practical.

The theory part is just like a lecture. The guy will give you some details regarding life jackets, life boats and many other things you have to know.
I learnt a lot of things and I want to focus on two particular things that I will share with you readers.

The first one is the life bouy. In case of someone is overboard, we have to throw the life bouy.Usually we think that the life bouy ( or life ring) is sent to the guy and then he has to catch it and eventually he will be pull it back on board. actually this is wrong. the correct practice is to send the bouy without tighten it to the ship or the rig.you are certainly wondering Why it should be like this?In fact, the bouy is orange and then easily we can see it. we have to throw it and then let it goes in the sea. it will be driven by the current. obviously the man overboard should have followed the same direction than the one taken by the bouy.Afterward, When rescuers will come, they will go straight to the bouy. From the bouy, they will start to search with going
forward and snaking.

The second is linked with vomit bag.if for any reason you are in a life boat or rescue boat. you will find a vomit bag. Most of the people will have sea sickness and then start to vomit.

The use of the bag is not "only" for keeping the vomit and then throw it away.It should be re used several times.the procedure is : every time you vomit , you have to take back your vomit.It means that you have to eat it back!!!

it looks really trash and almost impossible to do but believe me it can save your life.

The instructor personnaly did the experience few years ago when he was lost in the sea for 10 hours.He said that he had no vomit bag. so he started to vomit everything he ate and drank.When his stomach was empty he started to vomit his gastric juices which are highly acid. Then he fainted because acid started to penetrate and attach his lungs. fortunately he was rescued but if he had to wait for 2 more hours, he must have died.there is 2 benefits in this : you keep "something" in your stomach to vomit and you avoid being dehydrated.This can also be applied in aircraft and so on...

hope it helps!

R

PS : next post is offshore survival practical session.