Getting recertified in CPR AED

There have been quite a number of cases where athletes participating in sporting events and NSFs participating in route marches experience sudden cardiac arrest.
Both young and old fell victim to sudden cardiac arrest, even those that seemed to be fit. Just goes to show, that you should be prepared.

As a coach meeting people of various fitness levels and age in the courses or activities I conduct. So...

Its a good skill to have, especially when all Water-Venture outlets are equipped with an AED. Doesn't hurt to be prepared.

Do you know what drowning looks like?

Most people's idea of what drowning looks like would be what they saw on tv or at the movies. A person shouting for help, hands over their heads trying to get someone's attention.
In actual fact, drowning is pretty much silent. The person would be too busy gasping for air to shout and too busy using their hands to keep their head above the water to flail them in the air.

Check out this news report from Fox 9 in the US.
INVESTIGATORS: Drowning is silent - KMSP-TV
KMSP-TV

Although kayakers have to wear PFDs while kayaking in Singapore, I have always believed that you should know how to swim if you're going to be involved in watersports.

Good for another 3 years

Just completed my 2 day Refresher First Aid course at the Singapore Red Cross Society. Good to go for another 3 years :)

For those who are interested to learn First Aid or take a refresher, you can Click Here to see a list Singapore Sports Council approved centres.

Shock you to life

Went to upgrade myself today by attending a CPR + AED course. This was conducted as part of the National Lifesaving Day at the Singapore Expo.

Been thinking of signing up for such a course for quite some time now especially since I have conducted programmes for the elderly on a few occasions. When I found out this course was free to NROC coaches, I jumped on the opportunity and grabbed it!

New Methods

Did 2 orientation sessions at Jurong Lake after coming back from Kota Tinggi with Charles.
As usual, his methods are a little different from what Im used to.

Here's what I mean:


Reckless or calculated risk? These sort of things are very subjective.

Unscrupulous practices revealed

I spent my last 2 days at SIM HQ manning the Canoeing Club booth for its recruitment drive. Basically freshmen from UOL are down in the school for their Freshman Orientation Day where the OGLs will guide them around the school and let them play games to know their coursemates. One of the activities is a massive recruitment by the clubs and societies in SIM.

So there I was manning the booth when 2 girls approached. One girl was interested in the 1 Star and another later revealed that she's already certified. The certified girl was telling her friend to go for the 1 Star. At first I thought it was great that this girl was doing my job for me, but then she told her friend 1 Star very good, can become instructor. What the hell?

I wanted to find out more, so I smiled and told her you need 2 Star before you can become an instructor. She replied that you only need 1 Star to be an instructor at Camelot. She also revealed that she worked there before.
To make matters worse, Camelot is the operator that MOE has chosen to run its Adventure campsite in Changi.

Oops. Let the cat out of the bag.

Water Sports Licensing

Some time last year, Teo Ser Luck suggested a water safety license. No news on that so far.

But SIM has taken matters into their own hands and gone ahead with starting their own version.
From now on, any person joining a watersports club in SIM is required to show proof of ability to swim or take a swimming test.
The test will include:

1. treading water for 3min
2. drownproofing for 1minute
3. swim 50m in any recognised stroke

Personally I am against such a rule because I feel it is the personal responsibility of core members of the various clubs to ensure they are proficient in swimming. Making it compulsory takes away the personal responsibility from people and usually such rules are put in place for an organisation to cover themselves.

Quick shocked to hear the windsurfers saying people might have difficulty treading water for 3min. Dont think its too much to ask from a person doing watersports.
Then there was this weird ODAC guy who was saying that getting the members to know how to swim isnt enough. He suggesting getting the ODAC exco to be trained as lifeguards.
If you are really so concerned about safety, you would have taken it upon yourself to equip yourself with such knowledge. Not wait till now to do ask. Im guessing he probably wants to do it for free or at some subsidized rate.

What I found funny was that the diving club has to go through this test too. Haha.

First Aid Kit

Here's a pic of my very basic First Aid Kit. This is the kit I carry with me when not coaching at Water-Venture and during my kayak trips.
The box is a sandwich sized Lock & Lock which is waterproof and floats. But I keep it in my dry bag for double protection.

Contents List
1. Sterile Gauze
2. Plasters
3. 3M Transpore tape
4. Roller bandage
5. Antiseptic Cream
6. Forceps
7. Tweezers
8. Alcohol swabs



Maybe I should add in a small bottle of axe oil in case people get sea sickness.

Paper chase

Do read this article on the possibility of a water sports licensing programme.
Learn to swim, otherwise no water sports

THE SEA IS DANGEROUS

If you've been following the news recently, you would have seen or heard that Levin Angsana an SMU student fell off a 24ft keelboat during training and went missing. He was found dead a few days later.

Now those w/o knowledge of the sport will quickly say that he should have worn a lifejacket or PFD. However, it is not a rule or regulation to wear one while training or racing. Just like how you do not wear a lifejacket when you board the bum boat to Ubin or any of the Southern Islands.

Why did National sailor Renfred Tay jump in?
The victim attempted to climb back up but failed. Wouldn't it have been better for the EXPERIENCED national sailor to stay onboard and take helm? Ordering the crew to throw the victim a lifebuoy (not lifejacket) when he failed to climb aboard while he performed a man-overboard drill.

Anyone who is lifesaving trained would know that what Renfred did was very risky. What ever happened to "Reach, Throw, Row"? As a non-swimmer the victim could have panicked and dragged both himself and Renfred down to the bottom. Drowning the hero wanna-be.

Who's fault?
If I were to blame anyone, I would blame it on the NSAs. All they do these days is try to promote their sport to amass numbers and get funding from the government. Giving attitude when other sports get equal shots at glory.

Why do I blame them?
For this simple reason, after making the sport more accessible they impose rules and regulations instead of promoting personal responsibility and using education.

For those who didnt read the report, the victim was putting in more hours, training to be a skipper. If he had any personal responsibility, he would have at least learnt how to swim!
The requirement to get the Sailing Level 1 is to swim 50m with a PFD. But you have to remember that you don't wear one on the keelboat.
He was a liability to all aboard the vessel.

And in typical cowboy, free-world fashion, his sister is planning on taking action against SMU. Oh, come on. Please don't make Singapore intoone of those places where you get sued for every damn thing.

Cold Cold Cold!

Its been raining cats and dogs the past few days and coaching in the rain, really is no fun. You're cold, wet and chest deep in water, keeping an eye on the students. But, the crummy weather did provide learning opportunities.

Knowledge isnt enough.
One of the students was showing mild signs of hypothermia, he was shivering and his fingertips were pale and turning bluish. I told them that cotton made you lose body heat abt 20 times faster than usual, thats why they feel cold, yet I didn't think of asking the guy with hypothermia to take off his shirt when we reached shelter.

Self Reliance.
As I started coaching with Water-Venture which provides stuff like towlines, aquapacs, and a first aid kit in the office, I have been dependent on the club supplying all the necessary equipment. To avoid being over dependent, I am currently developing my towline and have put together a simple First Aid Kit, using a sandwich sized waterproof Lock & Lock container.
It currently contains the following:

1. band aids
2. sterile gauze
3. tube of antiseptic cream
4. alcohol swabs
5. tweezers
6. forceps
7. 3M Transpore tape

I plan to include a pack of heating pads too.

Danger in Kallang

Date: 30th October 2007
Time: 1530hrs
Weather: Cloudy & Sunny
Tide: 2.3 mtr (ebbing)
Location: Marina Reservoir
100 to 200 mtrs from Marina Barrage
Water condition: Calm

2 of our Kayakers rented 2 kayaks from 1330hrs to 1630hrs, both are 1 star holder. At that time they were paddling at the above location with that condition. They have already paddled out of the demarcated area for 1 star holder.
Sudden change of condition, water became choppy & under water current built up and draw them towards the only open gate of the Marina Barrage. Due to the funnel effect, also the 4th hour of ebbing tide & only 1 open gate, the current became very strong.
The 2 Kayakers tried to paddle away from the Barrage but they capsized in state. Next moment they were drawn & flushed out of the Barrage together with the kayaks & paddles. They tried to grab on to the gate but failed.
Luckily they have their PFD on all the while, next they found themselves floating in the sea apart. They swam towards each other & floated for about 30 mins before rescue came.
Thunderstorm started at 1600hrs in the Marina Barrage region & club still do not know that this incident have happened.
The 2 Kayakers & 1 kayak were pick up by a foreign boat, then were transferred to Coastguard boat. The Coastguard bought them to the shore, giving them S$20.00 to take a cab back to club.
They arrived back to club at about 1630hrs. When the storm subside @ 1700 hrs the Safety boat were launched to conduct a check.

Condition of Kayakers,
Kayaker 1 - Slight scratches on both hands, no major injuries.
Kayaker 2 - Badly scratched on both hands & arms, no major injuries.

Guys,

We need your assistant, please help to inform your participants about the danger being near the Barrage regardless of 1 star, 2 star or how many stars. Danger will be danger, we can't change it. All have to keep at least 500 mtrs away from the Barrage.