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CREWMAN STUDY MATERIAL
(Non-boat specific)
CREWMAN RESPONSIBILITIES
- helm
- lookout
- towing watches
- anchor watches
- rig towing and mooring lines
- act as the surface swimmer
- administer first aid
- operate damage control
HELM WATCH (helmsman)
The following is a series of things that you want to do when standing helmsman.
- check with coxswain (cox’n) for any special instructions and for the course you are to
steer
- repeat all commands given by the cox’n
- execute all commands given by the cox’n
- maintain a given course within 5 degrees
- remain at the helm until properly relieved
- do as the cox’n directs, minor alterations to course are permitted to avoid debris or any
thing that could endanger the boat or crew.
- operate the tiller (if applicable)
- inform relief of all information
TOWING WATCH
- observing how the vsl. being towed is ridding; in step (the proper distance between your
vsl and the vsl being towed i.e. both vsl’s at the top of the swells at the same time) listing
(permanent leaning of a vsl. to port or starboard) yawing (veers from one side to the
other) taking on water (vsl. becoming more and more submerged in the water).
- stress on the tow line
- shock loading tow line
- too much catenary in the line (sagging of line because of its own weight)
- unnecessary gear or people
- know how to do and when to do and emergency break away.
- report any changes to the cox’n
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ANCHOR WATCH
- check strain and tending on anchor line frequently, report to cox’n at least every 15
minutes
- report all vsl’s. approaching
- maintain a sharp lookout
- watch for dragging and chafing
- check position
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT:
- Signal Whistle-heard up to 1,100 yards
- MK-124 MOD0-red flare, orange smoke approx 20 seconds each
- MK-79 kit- MK-31 (launcher) MK-80 (flares)- 4.5 second burn 250-650 ft. 12,000
candle power, red star.
- Distress Signal Light-50-60 flashes per minute +/- 10, 100,000 candle power, 9 hours
continuous use, 18 hours intermittently.
MK-127A1- parachute illumination signal. 650-750 feet, 36 second burn, white star
flare, 125,000 candlepower, descends at a rate of 10 to 15 feet per second.
FIRST AID
- evaluate scene
- consider amount of rescuers training and equipment
- use proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
- keep calm
- act quickly
- call station or group/sector as appropriate to activate EMS
Moving a Patient
 Notify station so that appropriate medical resources can be activated
 If possible, avoid moving patient until person is examined and all injuries are
protected by properly applied splints, dressing ect.
 If head and/or neck injury is suspected, immobilize prior to movement
 Seed assistance before moving a patient.
 For conscious patients, always explain the move procedure in advance
 Patient movements should be careful, deliberate, and the minimum required
 Almost all patient are transported laying down
Treating for Shock
Causes Trauma (bleeding, falling, hit by blunt object, fractures and burns)
 Allergic reactions
 Hypothermia
 Drugs
 Toxins
 Heart attack
 Illnesses such as diabetes
 Emotional
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Symptoms Restlessness
 Faint
 Thirst
 Nausea
 Weakness
 Anxiousness
 Fright
 Dizziness
Signs Pulse- weak and rapid
-normal pulse for an adult irregular, strong, and between 60-100 beats per minute.
A shock patient will appear restless, and has a pulse that is weak and rapid usually
greater than 100 beats per minute.
 Breathing- shallow, rapid and irregular
-normal adult is between 16-24 breaths per minute, shock patient will usually be
either less than 16 breaths or greater than 24 breath. Immediate assistance is
required in these situations to avoid respiratory arrest.
 Skin- cold and clammy (sweating)
-adult skin is normally dry, not excessively pale or wet to the touch, and the
observed mental condition is normally calm.
 Pupils- dilated
 State of consciousness- alert (may be deceiving) to unconscious.
-Any time a person’s level of consciousness is other than alert, it is an indication
to immediately seek medical assistance.
Treatment Check for “medic alert” or other tags
 Obtain history for medical problems (heart disease, diabetes, allergies,
medication)
 Notify station, group/sector to obtain help and transport as advised
 Provide specific treatment if advised and trained to do so
 Position flat on back, elevate to lower extremities about 8-10 inches, if no head or
trouble breathing and being careful of any other injuries
 CPR if needed
 Slow warm, if already hot do not warm
 If person was in the water, remove cloths first
 Never give anything to eat or drink especially alcohol
 Handle with care
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ANAPHYLACTIC (OR DISTRIBUTIVE) SHOCK
-rapid extreme allergic reaction. Can be onset with in minutes, can also cause death with
in minutes or delay up to two hours.
Causes Eating fish or shellfish, particular types of berries or oral drugs such as penicillin
 Insect stings
 Injected drugs
 Exercise
 Cold
 Inhaled substances
Symptoms and signs
 Skin: itching, hives, redness
 Swelling of lips, tongue, feet, throat and hands
 Respiratory tract: wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing
 Gastrointestinal: nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
 Headache
 Sense of impending doom
 Loss of consciousness
Treatment
 If victim carries an epinephrine kit (or epi pen) you may assist them in
administration if trained
 CPR if needed
 Do not minimize an allergic reaction
 Activate EMS
 Record all that is observed or performed
 Reactions with similar symptoms include hyperventilation, alcohol intoxication,
hypothermia, low blood sugar and anxiety attack.
RESCUE BREATHING
Victim has a pulse, no breathing
 Head tilt chin lift
 2 slow breaths
 (if breaths go in) 1 breath every five seconds
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CPR
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Establish unresponsiveness
Look to see if the chest rises and falls, Listen for exhalation out mouth or nose,
Feel for pulse or responsiveness
2 fingers above the notch at the bottom of the sternum
Adult 15 breaths to 2 breaths, child 5-1 and infant 5-1.
Infants give one minute of care before calling EMS
BLEEDING
Three types of bleeding
 Arterial
- Blood that is coming from an artery, bright red in color and gushes forth in jets or
spurts in sync with pulse
 Venous
- Blood coming from a vein, dark red in color and come out at a steady pace
 Capillary
- Comes from capillaries (smaller veins), bright red in color and oozes from wound
Control the bleeding
- Apply direct pressure with clean sterile dressing and elevate
- If the bleeding soaks through the dressing than do not remove, add more dressing
- If bleeding persists, use a pressure point to slow the bleeding
The pressure points are:
 Temporal- scalp or head, do not use for more than 30 seconds to avoid cutting off
blood to the brain
 Facial- on each side of the chin, do not use for more than 2 minutes, just to slow
blood from a cut on the face
 Carotid- where you find a pulse on the neck, just below jaw on left or right side,
feel for heart beat. Only apply pressure to one side at a time. Only use pressure
for a few seconds to avoid cutting off circulation to the brain.
 Subclavian- deep under the collarbone on left or right side. Press artery against
collar bone
 Axillary- in between the bicep and bone on either arm
 Brachial- in between the bicep and bone right above the elbow on either arm
 Radial Ulnar- radial is on the forearm close to the wrist on the thumb side of the
hand and the ulnar is on the pinky finger side. Apply pressure to both points to
control bleeding of the hand. Use the radial point to control bleeding to the wrist.
 Femoral- front center part of the crease in the groin area, pelvic basin, left and
right side. Use the heel of your hand and apply a small amount of pressure to
control bleeding to the lower extremities
 Popliteal- back of the knee, apply pressure to slow bleeding on a leg wound
 Doralis pedis- top of foot, for a cut on the food and toes
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METHODS OF CONTROLLING BLEEDING
 Direct pressure and elevation (primary)
 Pressure points (secondary)
 Tourniquet (life or limb)- mark a T on the forehead and the time do not loosen
FRACTURES
Ensure to check circulation when splinting
BURNS
Types First degree- slight redness of outer layer of skin, increased warmth, tenderness
and mild pain.
 Second degree- extends through outer layers of skin. They produce blisters,
severe pain, redness and warmth
 Third degree- most severe, penetrate the full thickness of the skin, destroying
both inner layers and outer layers of the skin. The pain of a second degree burn
may be gone do to the fact that the nerve ending may have been destroyed. Color
may be anywhere from white and lifeless to black and charred. Third degree
burns don’t heal for many months and cause severe scaring.
TreatmentFirst degree
 Soak in cool water until pain is relieved. Flush chemical burns for at least 20
minutes. Cover with clean or sterile air tight wrap.
Second degree
 Same treatment as a firs degree burn. Do not break any blisters. Cover with a dry
sterile, non adhesive dressing
Third degree or severe second degree
 Cover the burn to reduce exposure to air
 Cool the burn
 Do not remove clothing unless smoldering
 Treat for shock even if not apparent
 Always obtain medical care
 Monitor patients airway
 Assess vital signs every 5 minutes
 Give nothing to eat or drink
 Do not put ice on burn
 Do not apply ointments
 Burns to the respiratory tract are always a medical emergency
CHEMICAL BURNS
Flush burn for at least 20 minutes. If it is a powder, brush off as much as possible then
flush. If it involves eyes, flush eyes for 5 minutes and cover with a clean dry dressing.
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STABILITY
Buoyancy The upward force of water displaced by the hull (weight and buoyancy are the
two primary forces acting upon a floating vessel that affect stability).
Center of buoyancy Center of gravity of displaced water
Center of gravity The point at which the weight of the boat acts vertically downwards
Types of stability Longitudinal (fore and aft)- balances the boat and prevents it from pitch-poling
(end over end).
 Transverse (athwartships)- keeps the boat from capsizing or rolling over.
Longitudinal plane is usually (fore and aft) is usually more stable than a transverse plane
(beam).
Moment- The force that causes a vessel to return to an even keel, or up right position.
Righting moment- The force that causes a vessel to react against a roll and return to an
even keel. Generally, the wider the beam the more stable the boat is.
Forces that affect stability Static- forces that are within the hull (inside), weight shifted around in the boat.
i.e. people moving from one side of the boat to the other side of the boat.
 Dynamic- forces that are outside the hull. i.e. winds, swell all other natural
forces.
Free surface effect- When a liquid that only partly fills a compartment (lose water) moves
due to a turn, speed changes or wave action and causes the boat to not want to right itself.
Mainly found of fishing vessels.
Aids to navigation Floating (buoy)
 Fixed (beacon)
- red are even (conical or “nun” buoys, triangle day board)
- green are odd (cylindrical or “can” buoys, square day board)
- helpful hint, Red Right Return. When entering a channel have the Red buoy on your
Right side as you are Returning home.
- safe water buoy or day board- alternating red and right vertical stripes.
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PERSON IN THE WATER RECOVERY
 When person goes overboard throw the life ring and strobe towards the person. If
they are conscious they can swim to it, otherwise it is used as data for searches
 After data is thrown person who saw the PIW acts as the pointer and will
communicate with the coxswain. Do not go forward of the window or coxswain,
it will reduce visibility to the coxswain.
 Verbal communication such as MAN OVERBOARD, MAN OVERBOARD,
PORT/STARBOARD SIDE. Will be said and repeated. Give barring and
distances to the coxswain. Do not take your eyes off the PIW. When the
coxswain says that they have a visual you can secure. Give amplifying
information such as face up or face down, conscious or unconscious ect.
 A surface swimmer will be made ready as needed. Swimmer will be wearing
proper harness and another crewmember will be tending the tending line.
 A person is designated as the recovery person and will stand by to receive and
pick up the PIW.
 Included in the pointers information, they will pass information like how the
speed is (fast, slow, good), distance off the side of the boat
 While doing the above, the pointer will move towards the stern at the same pace
as the PIW, acting as a visual marker for the coxswain. Then will assist the
recovery person on the recovery of the PIW.
 When the PIW is on board, make sure to check the airway, breathing and
circulation. Report findings to the coxswain.