Re: [UK] One minute, one degree

Stephen and Jane wrote:
Henry Law wrote:
(I would like to keep this thread free from comments on whether I
should have to ask this question, and generally free from comments on
the ARA's competence in this particular matter. There have been, and
will be, other threads for that!)

We've discussed this once before (June last year, Mr Anton at the
lectern) but it looks rather like speculation, albeit well-informed.
If we're to embody it in our safety instructions (which is what I, as
club safety thingy, am trying to do) we need to find an authoritative
source of it.

Before I write to the ARA to ask, can someone point me to a
reference?

The one minute, one degree rule was described thus in the RoSPA
report (page 68) -

"Eton College and Dorney Lake were very proactive in their management
of water temperature and possible exposure to cold water. They
operated a one degree, one minute rule developed by Rowing Canada
where a ratio of temperature to survival in water was used to advise
rowers and determine response time for coaches and rescue craft."

... and was recommended for general adoption in section 9.1.7.

However I have been unable to find any reference to it in the safety
section of the Rowing Canada website - even in their weather and cold
water advice. I also can't find it on the Dorney Lake website - which
doesn't seem to give any details of their safety regime.

I think it operates thus: At (say) 5 degrees C water temperature you
assume you have 5 minutes in which to rescue an immersed victim - so
rowers and safety launches shouldn't be more than 5 minutes apart
from each other. At 6 degrees you have 6 minutes to rescue etc. I
doubt it is very accurate as there are lots of variables, but it is
useful as a rule of thumb.
Perhaps Dorney Lake management might be able to help?

Jane

Sorry, I should have given more detail.

The RCA website does state that when the water temperature is below 10
degrees C extra precautions should be taken - to include considering
cancelling the outing, or ensuring each rowing shell is accompanied by a
launch carrying appropriate pfds for each rower. This is in keeping with
the recommendations of the FISA Minimum Guidelines. It would thus appear
that the one degree one minute rule falls short of both the current RCA
recommendations, and the FISA cold water recommendations:

http://dps.twiihosting.net/fisa/doc/content/doc_7_1087.pdf

FISA also, of course, recommends NGBs to adopt the FISA Minimum Flotation
Standard for all boats.

There is an apparently unexplained appendix at the end of the pdf version of
the RCA Safety Guidelines giving the Canadian Coastguard notice of Transport
Canada regulations for rowing shells which indicate that, at any water
temperature, each shell must carry enough appropriate pfds for all the crew,
except if it is accompanied by a launch which carries the same, or if it is
competing in an official regatta. Unless I've missed it, I don't think the
RCA specify which set of rules (theirs or Transport Canada's) applies when.

http://www.rowingcanada.org/safety/safety_guideline/#cold

In the light of all this confusing and conflicting stuff, may we recommend
the following on our website?

http://www.leoblockley.org.uk/documents/Cold-Water-Hypothermia-for-coaches-clubs.doc

.... (a sister document to "Cold Water Survival") which aims to provide
relevant advice for clubs and coaches, backed up by comprehensive
information.

Jane and Stephen


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: [UK] One minute, one degree
    ... club safety thingy, am trying to do) we need to find an authoritative ... water temperature and possible exposure to cold water. ... response time for coaches and rescue craft." ... At 5 degrees C water temperature you assume ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)
  • Re: One minute, one degree
    ... someone compiling a club safety code can either refer to it or copy it ... research in cold water immersion/cooling/survival. ... a boat that's being rowed ashore, righting and climbing back on their ... recommendations, and even then, if he's reached the age of majority ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)
  • Re: One minute, one degree
    ... someone compiling a club safety code can either refer to it or copy it ... research in cold water immersion/cooling/survival. ... a boat that's being rowed ashore, righting and climbing back on their ... recommendations, and even then, if he's reached the age of majority ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)
  • ARA Capsize Drill - yet again
    ... we've drawn attention to the ill-considered advice on how a capsized sculler should get themselves to the shore if unable to climb back in. ... And I do mean powerless, because water, especially cold water, saps your strength so subtly that before you realise you are losing it you've already lost it. ... Last autumn we reported how a girl capsized outside UTRC & was seen to be put into considerable difficulties by the shouted instructions, all following ARA capsize drill, to swim to the bow & tow the boat ashore. ... Had Sikander been instructed to climb onto his upturned boat without delay, instead of being told to swim through that cold water, he would have had ample support & no need whatsoever to swim, he would thus have been spared the huge increase in bodily heat loss that accompanies full immersion & is further increased by the act of swimming, he would have been able to paddle boat & himself in relative safety toward a friendly shore, & the person waiting there would have been able to lift him to safety. ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)
  • Re: Anon comment on Leo Blockley website - who are you?
    ... I have seen you flyer to clubs and have some questions, ... Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr David Lammy ... done to maintain the highest standards of safety. ... into the issue in 2002 and published a report called "Inland Water Safety: ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)
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