Ditching and sea survival
I recently took part in the GASCo seminar on Ditching and Sea Survival at the RNLI College in Pool Dorset. If you’re going to fly over water then this is great way to find out how handle a ditching and keep alive in the water long enough to be rescued. I have no hesitation in recommending it not only for the content but also for the fun of taking part. For myself I found the practical experience of using life-rafts and a lifejacket fully clothed in a swimming pool a real eye opener about just how difficult this can be and the importance of selecting the right kit for the job and most importantly knowing how to use it. Also, hearing people from SAR services - both in the boats and from the helicopters - talking about the difficulty of spotting a head bobbing about in the sea certainly brought home the need to make it easy to be seen with PLBs, dye markers, flares, lights . . .etc. According to one of the speakers 80% of the time people survive the ditching but only 40% of the time do they stay alive in the water long enough to be rescued.