Original document date: 10 April 2014 This version: Version 6 Version date: 28 October 2016 Next due for review: 28 October 2017 Purpose To ensure the safety of members in the event of a boat overturn. Background Great Lakes Pearl Dragons is committed to ensuring the safety of members at all times. In the event of a boat overturning it is important that each member of the crew is able to tread water for a period of time and, if necessary, propel themselves to the upturned boat or shore and to have an understanding of the capsize drill. Responsibilities The Executive is responsible for ensuring this procedure is readily accessible by all members and included in the induction of every new member to the Club. The Club Captains are responsible for including this procedure and arranging the safety swim and capsize drill in the induction of every new member The Club Secretary is responsible for maintaining a record of each member s completion of the safety swim and capsize drill. Members are responsible for ensuring they adhere to this policy and follow the associated procedure. Policy New paddlers (i.e. not members of DBNSW) must wear a PFD when participating in Pearl Dragon training sessions and/or come and try days Visiting paddlers (i.e. members of DB NSW) must wear a PFD unless they can provide evidence of having completed a similar safety swim with their own Club. Such evidence may be an email message from an Exec member of their Club. 1 of 5 GLPD safety swim and capsize drill
Procedure 1. All members of the Club should complete the optional safety swim as per this policy or wear a PFD. 2. All members of the Club shall do the capsize drill procedure at least once every two years calculated from the date of their previous drill 3. Each member must complete the safety swim at least once every two years calculated from the date of their previous swim 4. Any member who fails to complete the safety swim must wear a PFD until such time as they complete the safety swim on a subsequent occasion 5. The club shall make provision for members to be able to attempt the safety swim at multiple times during the season Conducting the safety swim 1. A member of the Club Executive (or nominated representative) must be present to verify the outcome of the safety swim and capsize drill 2. A suitably qualified* person must be present at each safety swim to oversee and perform a rescue if necessary 3. The safety swim shall be conducted in an outdoor body of water. It will not be conducted in an artificially safe environment such as an indoor or outdoor freshwater Olympic-type pool. A saltwater enclosure such as the Forster Beach Bullring is acceptable provided at least one section of the water is deep enough for the member not to be able to touch the bottom. 4. A new member who joins the Club during the cooler months may do an interim swim at the Great Lakes Aquatic Centre if they so choose. This is just a temporary measure and they (the member) will need to bear the cost of any fees associated with using the centre, for themselves the person conducting the safety swim and the EC member. They will also need to complete a swim at a later time in the conditions mentioned above (3) i.e. an outdoor body of water 5. The safety swim shall comprise 2 minutes treading water immediately followed by a 50 metre swim (any stroke is permissible) 6. The swim will be from deeper water to shallower water 7. There will be no time limit on the 50 metre swim 8. When entering the water the member must be wearing all clothing and accessories they would normally have on them when training 9. During the 2 minute tread water the member may remove any item of clothing or discard any accessory they wish prior to the 50 metre swim 2 of 5 GLPD safety swim and capsize drill
10. At completion of the safety swim and capsize drill each member shall be given a form indicating whether successful or not. If successful the form shall indicate the date before which they must complete their next safety swim. If unsuccessful the form shall indicate the member must wear a PFD until such time as they complete the safety swim on a subsequent occasion. 11. The form shall be sign by both the Executive member present and the suitably qualified person 12. The Executive member present shall inform the Club Secretary of the outcome of the safety swim and capsize drill so those details can be recorded NOTE: Suitably qualified means: A person with current First Aid and Resuscitation Certificate(s) and current Bronze Medallion from either Surf Lifesaving or Royal Lifesaving. Associated policies/procedures Pearl Dragons Coach/Sweep Endorsement policy Pearl Dragons Training Session policy Pearl Dragons Coach Training procedure Pearl Dragons Sweep Training procedure Pearl Dragons Capsize procedure Pearl Dragons Coach in Boat policy Pearl Dragons Out of Session Boat Use policy DB NSW policies and procedures http://www.dbnsw.org.au/about/policies--documents/ AusDBF policies and procedures http://www.ausdbf.com.au/content/documents-policies 3 of 5 GLPD safety swim and capsize drill
r GL record of safety swim and capsize drill The following are to be completed by the Executive member (or nominated representative) and the suitably qualified person as per the GLPD Safety Swim Policy and capsize drill. Location of safety swim: Date of safety swim and capsize drill / / 20 Executive member s name: Suitably qualified person s name: Qualifications: Surf Lifesaving bronze medallion Royal Lifesaving bronze medallion First Aid certificate current to CPR component last updated on / / 20 / / 20 Member name Safety swim successfully completed Capsize drill completed Next safety swim and capsize drill due Signed: Executive member (or nominated representative) Suitably qualified person 4 of 5 GLPD safety swim and capsize drill
r GL record of safety swim and capsize drill Great Lakes Pearl Dragons Inc. Swim Test & Capsize Drill Certificate Member Name: Date of safety swim/drill: / / Successfully completed? Yes - next swim test and capsize drill to be completed on or before / / No - you must wear a PFD when in the boat until such time as you successfully complete a safety swim as per the GLPD Swim Policy Executive Member: Or nominated representative Suitably qualified person: Great Lakes Pearl Dragons Inc. Swim Test & Capsize Drill Certificate Member Name: Date of safety swim/drill: / / Successfully completed? Yes - next swim test and capsize drill to be completed on or before / / No - you must wear a PFD when in the boat until such time as you successfully complete a safety swim as per the GLPD Swim Policy Executive Member: Or nominated representative Suitably qualified person: 5 of 5 GLPD safety swim and capsize drill