GRDA Weekly Update
Preparing for a Crew Overboard Incident
Falling overboard can happen on any size boat. Preventing an overboard situation is relatively easy when you use a little common sense.
Three Points of Contact - Good Advice for all Boaters
While on board you should always strive to have three points of contact with the boat. This means, you should have both feet planted and holding on with at least one hand. Or, if you are moving about, hold on with both hands to something firm like a grab rail or stanchion and take one step at a time. If seated, have your feet touching the floor, or holding on with both hands. Having three points of contact assures that your body is positioned in such a way that the majority of your body is in contact with the boat, and you won't be set off-balance easily.
Additionally, avoid standing and sudden movements whenever operating your boat and plan ahead to avoid unsafe operating and environmental conditions like bad weather or rough water. This goes for your passengers too. If your boat is operated while standing, such as a center console, assure solid footing and brace yourself if it has a leaning post or bolster chair. Always wear your engine cut-off lanyard so that the engine stops if you go overboard. Crew-overboard (COB) victims face a number of dangers, including panic, injury during the fall, and hypothermia. For those aboard the boat, quick thinking and coordinated action are essential to an effective rescue.
Prevention Tips:
- Board one person at a time
- Step into the middle of the boat
- Keep weight low and centered
- Add non-skid or grip tape in strategic areas
- Keep pets like large dogs from moving about
- Assure solid footing and keep decks uncluttered
- Always sit in areas designated by the operator; never on the gunnels, bow or swim platform
- Check life lines and railing devices that keep passengers aboard for wear or weakness
- Boats over 16' in length must have a Type IV throwable safety device like a horseshoe buoy
Crew Overboard (COB) Rescue Tips:
- Stop the boat's forward progress! Every second that you move away from the COB will make it harder for you to get back to them.
- Get floatation to the person. Items such as a Lifesling will help keep the swimmer afloat and help you get them into the boat.
- Take a head count to see who fell overboard. Knowing who (or how many) fell overboard will help you plan the rescue. For instance, if the largest person on the boat fell overboard, it might take more equipment or people to bring that person back aboard. Knowing who you are going after will help you decide who needs to do what in the rescue.
- Assign roles to crew members. Such as having a lookout to keep the victim in sight, to keep people involved in the rescue.
Get the boat next to the COB. Placing your boat between the swimmer and the wind (upwind) will give a lee to the person and will give them flatter seas, but you run the risk of floating over them, which will take away your ability to steer due to the danger of the propeller. The better way is to have the swimmer between the boat and the wind by approaching the swimmer from downwind. This will increase your ability to maneuver, and will take less time to get the person to the boat. Get the person on the boat. This can be very difficult, especially if the person is hurt, weak, or unconscious. Lifeslings, swim platforms, ladders, and brute strength are all methods of bringing someone on board. Practice all and pick the best one for your boat and crew. Avoid sending a rescuer into the water. This will just be another person that could potentially need rescue. If someone needs to go over to help a week or injured person, make sure they have a life jacket on and a lifeline secured to them.
Practice Makes Perfect
Unfortunately, despite all preventive efforts, accidents can still occur. The need for crew-overboard drills cannot be emphasized enough. Your entire crew should practice the maneuver until recovery is second nature. Before you depart, show everyone where the life-saving gear is located and how to use it. Practice first with a floating cushion, then with a swimmer and another boat standing by. These drills can often make the difference between a tragedy and a mishap on the water. It's always a good idea to practice throwing a life ring or cushion - they are quite a bit harder to throw than you might think. With practice and the right equipment, you can safely and quickly recover someone who has fallen overboard. Crew over board procedures should be practiced at the beginning of every boating season and from time to time over the course of the boating season. Doing so may save someone's life - even your own!
Boater Safety Tip
Public Encouraged to Participate in FERC Scoping Meetings
Last February, GRDA initiated the 5-year process to relicense the Pensacola Project, which allows the GRDA to operate the hydroelectric facility at Pensacola Dam that creates the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees. The current license for the Pensacola Project expires March 31, 2022. The public and our lakeside partners are invited to attend one or more of the scoping meetings that will be held in February. These scoping meetings are provided to assist the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in identifying particular study needs, as well as the scope of issues to be addressed as part of the initial phase of relicensing. All individuals, organizations and agencies that are impacted by the Pensacola Project and Grand Lake are encouraged to attend one or more of these meetings to learn more about the project and to have the opportunity to give your comments and suggestions on preliminary issues to be addressed.
The FERC Scoping meetings will be held at:
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 9 AM
GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 6 PM
Grove City Hall
104 W. 3rd Street
Grove, Oklahoma
Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 6 PM
Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College
Fine Arts Center of Performance Hall
*Friday, February 9, 2018 at 9 AM
GRDA Engineering and Technology Center
9933 E. 16th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma
*(Please notify us in advance if you plan to attend this meeting by calling Jacklyn Jaggars at 918-256-0723.)
2018 Boating Safety Courses Scheduled
Once again GRDA Police will offer FREE Boating Safety Courses to the public. These course are provided by GRDA Police at NO COST to adults and kids 12 to 16 years of age that want to be certified to operate a boat or PWC. Our goal is to help ensure that your entire family is safe while having fun and in compliance with the law while on our lakes. Instruction in the one-day courses will include navigation rules, boat nomenclature and equipment, safety equipment, boating laws and information about safely navigating on GRDA lakes. We recommend that anybody that intends to operate a vessel to take this course, as it can also result in discounted rates on your insurance.
The Kyle Williams Boating Safety Act prohibits kids between the ages of 12 and up to 16 years of age, without a valid driver’s license, from operating a vessel powered by a motor of more than 10 horsepower or a sailing vessel 16 feet or longer without first completing a state approved boater safety course.
The classes will be held at the GRDA Ecosystems and Education building in Langley at the west end of Pensacola Dam on the following dates from 8:00 AM till 5:00 PM:
March 3, 2018
April 14, 2018
May 12, 2018
May 19, 2018
June 9, 2018
June 23, 2018
Anyone interested in attending the courses can register at http://www.grda.com/kyle-williams-boating-safety-classes-registration/.
Did You Know?
Only 13 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.
Rush for Brush Dates Announced
Mark your calendars now for the 2018 Rush for Brush program. The increasingly popular events will be held on Saturday, June 2nd at the GRDA Ecological and Education Systems in Langley and on Saturday, June 23rd at the Wolf Creek Park in Grove.
You can register for either event at http://www.grda.com/rush-for-brush-registration/
GLSPS In Top Ten in the Country
Congratulations are in order for our friends at the Grand Lake Sail and Power Squadron. The GLSPS has been selected as one of the United States Power Squadrons TOP TEN SQUADRONS in the 2017 BoatU.S. Distinguished Civic Service Award Recognition program! They were selected from over 400 Squadrons across the US, most of which come from the coastal regions which have many more members and a much larger population. This is great recognition for the GLSPS and their members that play an active role in helping to preserve the environment, safety and recreational activities at Grand Lake. We should all be very proud of what they have accomplished!
Boating Tips From the GLSPS
When changing out your batteries, take a picture with your phone camera to remember the correct connections. Label your battery cables and mark the positive post with red fingernail polish. Incorrect connections are a common cause of boat fires. Avoid shorting out the posts with a metal tool or reconnecting batteries in a series when they should be in parallel. Battery connections should be inspected and tightened at least twice each season.
Never use an automotive charger on boats. They do not have the proper float settings and many are not ignition protected which is dangerous if there are fuel fumes in an enclosed compartment.
Boat Smart from the start and take a course from America’s Boating Club, the United States Power Squadrons. For local information visit our website at: usps.org/grandlake or on Face Book at GLSPS.
Adopt The Shoreline
By the Book
The Administrative Regulations of GRDA describe the organizations, operations, and procedures for the Grand River Dam Authority with respect to its administration, rulemaking, and other activities and are intended to supplement and interpret pertinent provisions of state statutes.
The following information are excerpts of the GRDA Administrative Regulations Title 300 Chapter 35 that are provided in an effort to educate the public about what regulations are enforced on GRDA waterways and properties. Many of these regulations have changed effective September 11, 2017. All GRDA regulations are available for review at GRDA.com.
BOATING SAFETY RULES
300:35-5-9. Persons on personal watercraft
The number of persons riding on a personal watercraft shall be limited to that number as recommended by the manufacturer. Any person being towed behind a personal watercraft shall count as one (1) person riding on a personal watercraft.
300:35-5-10. Persons using Water Jet Pack Units
The following rules shall apply to persons using Water Jet Pack Units:
(1) A distance of 100 feet shall be maintained from any other person, watercraft, PWC or other fixed object at all times.
(2) Six feet of water is required to operate the Water Jet Pack Unit.
(3) The operator of the Water Jet Pack Unit shall wear a life vest at all times. Additionally, if there is an operator of the watercraft/PWC used as part of the Water Jet Pack Unit, such operator shall also wear a life vest at all times.
(4) The person being propelled into the air shall wear a helmet at all times.
(5) Any PWC or unit used as part of a Water Jet Pack Unit shall have an orange warning flag when in operation.
(6) Only one person may be propelled into the air at one time and there shall not be any passengers on a PWC or unit used as part of a Water Jet Pack Unit.
(7) No person under the age of 18 shall operate a Water Jet Pack Unit without the supervision of a person over the age of 25 years.
(8) A Water Jet Pack Unit may only be operated during the hours between one-half hour after sunrise and one-half hour before sunset.
300:35-5-11. Persons using paddleboards, canoes and kayaks
Persons using Paddleboards, canoes or kayaks on the waters of GRDA must wear a life jacket at all times. Paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks shall not be used between the hours of one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise.Paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks shall stay within one-hundred fifty (150) feet of the shoreline unless in a no wake cove, hollow or creek.
Do you have a Special Event Planned?
PLEASE let us know about your lake or river events so we can provide the resources you may need to make it a positive experience!
2018 Special Events Schedule
February 16-17: Sweethearts Run, Pensacola Dam Off-Road area
March 2-4: Baja Disney, Pensacola Dam Off-Road area
March 22-25: Big Meat Run, Pensacola Dam Off-Road area
Fishing Tournament Meeting Planned for Area Anglers
To All Tournament Directors and Fishermen:
Are you planning on organizing a fishing tournament on GRDA lakes in the future? If so, you are invited to meet with us on February 24th at the Ecosystems and Education Center in Langley, Ok to learn about proper fish handling techniques. The meeting will start at 10:00 AM. Topics to be covered include:
- Fish handling in a boat
- Fish handling at tournament weigh-ins
- Proper ways to Fizz a Fish
GRDA Police and Gene Gilliland with B.A.S.S. will be on hand to answer questions regarding the three topics as well as any other questions.
Contact Officer Jason Littlefield at 918-530-6138 for further information.
2018 Fishing Tournaments
