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| PRODUCT NEWS |
07 / 02 / 06 |
Being safe, having fun, staying alive |  | | |
Going through all the bumf I brought back from the London Boat Show, I came across a CD tucked in one of the catalogues: The-safety CD-ROM from the RNLI. Do yourself a favour, if you've got one, bung it in your computer and have a butcher's - it might be the most important thing you've ever done. Or if you haven't got the CD, go on-line at www.rnliseasafety.org.uk where you can order a copy and be able to access most of the same stuff.
Why? Because this is everything you ever might need to know about safety afloat - all in one place, with big clear graphics, easy navigation, very clear instructions, comprehensive sections, and links to important sites on the web, including the RNLI's own impressive site.
Each section is arranged so that you never need to hunt for anything once you've chosen your interest. The disc walks you through nice and easy, so you can focus on the subject instead of wondering how to get there.
What's particularly good is the way the material works for novices and first-timers without driving off more experienced sailors because they might think they know it all anyway. The whole thing is like a check list, letting you choose your own level and then nodding at the series of reminders that come up. Common sense taking you by the hand and leading you to exactly where you want to be.
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No talking down either, the whole thing assumes that we share the concern for good, responsible safety. Take this simple check, one of several to make before casting off - yes, it's second-nature anyway, but reassuring to see it put down in words - kind of like a pilot's check for take-off:
Check where the rigging is fixed to the deck. Tape over exposed pins and rings to keep them in place and prevent them snagging clothing or exposed skin.
Obvious, certainly. Yet how many of us actually take this kind of instruction on board and do it? Professionals, for sure. But aren't we Joe Public people more in need of following this kind of code with our families on board?
It gets better - like with the ABC of First Aid (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). Or how to handle things when it gets panicky - with the helicopter overhead and everything happening at once.
The pages are simple to take in, the kind of thing you find easy to remember, so that when it comes to the real thing, following most of these procedures should come naturally.
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Animation and video clips support this easy approach - so there is no doubt n your head about what is required as you move on to the next section. The bite-size chunks finish logically with an explanation of the Coast Guard's CG 66 voluntary safety identification scheme and a hotlink for you to supply the necessary information about you and your craft on-line.
As a bonus there is Boatlaunch, an interactive guide to slipways and launching facilities around the country, with maps of how to get there. You can also request the other RNLI guides: UK Sailing, Personal Watercraft, UK Windsurfing, Extreme Sport DVD, Kitesurfing Safety, Irish Windsurfing, UK Sport Diving, Irish Sport Diving, Dive Safely Pack, The-safety CD-ROM, Choosing a Childs Lifejacket, UK Dinghy Sailing, Lifejacket Card, Inboard Engine Card, Outboard Engine Card, Irish Sailing, Irish Dinghy Sailing, UK Motorboating, UK Sportsboating, Irish Motorboating, Irish Powerboat, Heart Pounding all via the hotlink on the CD that takes you directly to: www.rnliseasafety.org.uk
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