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RESCUE - Considerations For Kiters & Ocean Rescue Person

Lots of valuable articles from Rick Iossi, FKA Inc.
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RickI
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RESCUE - Considerations For Kiters & Ocean Rescue Person

Postby RickI » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:02 pm

I recently participated in a lifeguard/EMT training exercise in preparation for an upcoming competition. It is amazing at how much these folks need to know about symptoms, treatment, procedures in assessing and aiding injured people.

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Greg of Delray Watersports graciously volunteered as a kite lofting "victim" for the various teams to work with.

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The harness, lines and potentially repowered kite factor into the emergency response.

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The teams were scored over an extensive list of criteria as they worked through the scenarios.

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If you are a victim, it is best to respond favorably ... or else!

More to come about that part of things which may be of particular interest to lifeguards, EMT and other rescue personnel. For now though I wanted to gather input on the kiting orientation handout prepared for ocean rescue personnel which follows,


Kiteboarder in Need of Rescue?

August 26, 2002 (Revised May 21, 2007)


Kiteboarders are becoming more common on beaches across the globe. With kites and riders flying at speed through the air, the sport can provide an entertaining spectacle to watchers on shore. Sometimes the kite isn’t flying but is on the water with the rider which can cause questions about the need for rescue for watchers onshore. Lifeguards, park rangers and rescue personnel may need to familiarize themselves with this scenario as kiteboarding grows in popularity. Whether a kiteboarder is fully skilled or, particularly, if he is still learning, his kite may occasionally spend more time on the water than in the air. This is not necessarily an indication that a rescue is needed. The kiteboarder may just be sorting things out to relaunch his kite, to use the kite as a sail to pull himself into shore or may be swimming in--slowly. Riders sometimes spend quite a while doing this. The last thing kiteboarders want to do is to create avoidable false alarms for rescue personnel although when rescue is needed it is very welcome. Ideas follow for consideration by both riders and rescuers when a kite is on the water:

TO KITEBOARDERS:

1. LANDING ON A GUARDED BEACH If you are going to come into shore in a guarded area and seas are calm, consider landing, wrapping up your lines, deflating your leading edge and rolling your kite up before swimming in among bathers if you are able. If this is not feasible and a guard is present with the knowledge of how to do an assisted kite landing, signal your intent to land the kite by patting your head. Ideally the guard will respond with the same signal. Carefully lower your kite to the guard who should approach the leading edge from windward and securely grab the center of the leading edge, then walk toward the kiter to detension the lines then pivot the kite upward into a “Uâ€Â

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