HEALTH, NUTRITION & FITNESS • SELECTION OF SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

Title: Don’t Rock The Boat Baby!

Selection of Survival Equipment

Grade(s): 6-8

Introduction: Records show that many ships sink in less than 15 minutes. This means that sailors must be ready for emergencies and need to be educated for safety survival. Many survival tips and safety equipment are important at all times while out at sea. The Coast Guard sets minimum safety standards for vessels and associated equipment. For example, personal flotation devices (PFDs) must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition. They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments. Disposable devices must be immediately available for use. Though not required, a PFD should be worn at all times when the vessel is underway. All recreational boats must carry one Type I, Type II, III, or V PFD for each person aboard. PFDs will keep someone from sinking, but necessarily from drowning.

The ten basic rules of boating safety include carrying adequate safety equipment, carrying approved and suitable PFDs, telling someone where you are going, knowing the rules and regulations, watching the weather, carrying sufficient fuel and water, guarding against fire, ensuring that the engine is reliable, preventing overload, and not mixing alcohol or drugs with boating. Safe boating must be encouraged at all times. Boating/sailing vessels should never be overloaded with passengers.

Learner Objective(s):

• The student will be able to formulate a plan of action in case of sinking water vessel.
  
  
• The student will demonstrate an understanding of human behavior in case of emergencies.
  
  
• The student will be able to discuss safety tips for survival at sea.

Florida Sunshine Standards: Science: SC.A.1.3.1; Math: MA.B.3.3.1

Competency Based Curriculum: Science: M/J - III-1-A; Math: M/J - III - 2- A

Materials:

Life Jacket
Rope
Flat Board
Sea Survival Kit (i.e., whistle, signal devices, flashlights, etc.)
Life Raft
Immersion Suit
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
Simulated Knife
Hand-held Radio
Radar Reflector
Water Buckets (2)
Extra Clothing
Signaling Mirrors (2)

Activity Procedure(s):

1. Allow students to research and read the Survival at Sea article at:
   http://www.otenet.gr/sailor/abandon.htm
   
   
2. Present the following scenario to the students:
   You are on a ship that will sink in less than 15 minutes. This affords little time to formulate a plan of action, therefore careful planning is essential to be ready for emergency. When abandoning ship there are important pointers that need to be considered. Role play one of the following plans of action:
   
   
3. Assign one of the following emergency tasks to each group of 3 students:
   
   Group 1- Action In The Water
   Group 2- Boarding The Raft From The Water
   Group 3- Getting An Injured Man Into The Raft
   Group 4- Righting A Capsized Raft
   Group 5- Righting A Capsized Raft With Water Trapped In The Canopy
   Group 6- Surviving Aboard The Life Raft
   Group 7- Treating Injuries
   Group 8- Preservation Of Body Heat
   Group 9- Leadership And Morale
   Group 10-Establishing The Routine
   
   
4. The role play activity should be no less than 10 minutes.
   
   
5. Encourage students to make suggestions and critique the respective role plays.

Student Assessment:

Allow student to answer critical thinking skills questions assigned by the teacher.

1. If you were lost at sea by yourself, how would you prioritize your emergency plan of action?
   
   
2. In case there were 3 of you attempting to survive out at sea, who determines the leader of the group?

Observe student participation during role play activities.

Activity Extension(s):

Depending on the length of the sailing vessel, research the maximum number of individuals that should be on the respective vessel (Math). If there is no Coast Guard capacity label, the following formula can be used:

People = (Length of Boat x Width)
Give students examples to calculate.

Allow students to research articles via the internet associated with real-life survival at sea situations (Language Arts/Social Studies).

Home Learning Activity:

Allow students to explain the following question:

Can salt be separated from actual seawater while at sea?

Vocabulary: Coast Guard, Personal Flotation Devices

References/Related Links:

http://www.airseasafety.com/surv.htm
http://www.mbht.tas.gov.au/mbh006.html
http://www.coastguard.com