NJ Seal Study – Field Trip Introduction
Stockton Marine Science and Environmental Field Station
Located off of the Mullica River
Mullica River empties into the Great Bay
The Great Bay empties into the Atlantic Ocean
Designated as the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JCNERR)– NOAA funded program– Designated in October of 1997
My Position
Faculty support
Facility management
Direct marine operations– Safety program
Boating Safety – year round
Medical needs – must inform me
Boarding a boat – carefully
While underway – suits zipped up
Getting off the boat
Questions?
Boating safety – cold weather
Cold weather, cold water and windy conditions More than half of annual boating accident fatalities
occur in these conditions Less boaters on the water = less chance of
immediate rescue Water removes heat from body 25x faster than air Survival time in water < 40F can be reduced to
minutes
= STAY ON THE BOAT
Slipping while getting off of the boat– May or may not be shallow!– If only feet get wet, still have problem
Falling over side while underway– Not holding on well– Moving around when you are unfamiliar with such activity
Actual sinking of vessel in open water– Catastrophic collision with another boat or large object– Flipping vessel in heavy seas or ice
Your chances of entering the water are very slim,BUT…
Knowledge, gear, and behavior Knowledge – two things against you…
– Cold Shock• Involuntary gasping reflex• Increased heart rate and blood pressure = cardiac arrest• Loss of consciousness
– Hypothermia• Decreased body temperature – long exposure• Slower onset than cold shock• Muscle rigidity and loss of manual dexterity• Decreased mental capacity
Gear – immersion work suits
Mustang survival suits
Provide floatation Provide warmth Cinch up straps for
maximum protection Must be worn to be
counted as a PFD
Water temperatures during your field season = 30F – 55F
Survival time depends on behavior
Try to get back on boat or land ASAP
Stay with an overturned vessel – do not attempt to swim to shore unless VERY close (<50m)
If you cannot get out of the water– Cover head if possible– Assume HELP position– Stay with others– Minimize motion
Treatment of Hypothermia(http://www.blacklakeny.com/offseasonsafety.html)
Mild case – (victim shivering but coherent)– Move to warm area– Remove wet clothes– Give warm, sweet drinks: NO alcohol or caffeine– Keep victim warm for several hours
Moderate case – (shivering may decrease or stop)– Victim may seem irrational– Same treatment but NO drinks– Lye victim down, cover with warm blankets– Seek medical attention ASAP
Hypothermia treatment, cont’d. Severe case
– Shivering may stop, victim may begin to lose consciousness– Keep victim prone and immobile– Handle gently– Cover in dry, warm blankets– Stimulate legs and arms gently– Cold blood in extremities can return to core and induce
cardiac arrest– Seek medical attention ASAP
Victim appears dead– Little or no pulse or breathing– Assume victim can be revived– If there is any trace of pulse or breathing, DO NOT give CPR– Medical help is imperative
More on cold weather preparation… Dress sensibly
– Warm clothes, layer– Polypropylene long underwear– Sock liners, wool inserts– Waterproof boots – required
Eat sensibly the day of the trip If you plan on removing survival suit for
blind work– Need additional jacket, waterproof pants
Bring water to drink
Other important knowledge Where you are
– Travel from Nacote Creek – Mullica River - across northern end of Great Bay
– Seven Islands, Great Bay– Nearest road – Rutgers University Field
Station, end of Great Bay Blvd.
Communication– VHF radio – field station/USCG– Cell Phone – boat cell phone has list of
important numbers
R/V Osprey…
Is there a trip?
Call 652-4486, or x4486 from campus The message will indicate a cancellation
within one hour of the anticipated trip Please call if you are not coming Boat leaves the dock at the set time Don’t bring along more than you need
652-4486, or x4486 from campus