Rowing Safety Plan- Great Herring Pond

Rowing Safety Plan 

Preventative Measures 

USRowing Safety Video 

USRowing, the national governing body of rowing in the United States, has produced a rowing specific safety video in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard. The video is forty-two minutes long and all rowers should be familiar with ideas addressed in it. Several safety topics are discussed in the video both on-water and around a boathouse. Some of these topics include collisions on the water, getting into an overturned boat, and many other important safety concepts to know before going on the water. 

Swim Test 

The ability to swim is a requirement to be a member of the rowing team at The Academy. Every incoming student at MMA is required to complete and pass a swim test during orientation. The Rowing team does have its own swim test requirements and will be completed every semester. 

Athletes should be able to tread for at least ten minutes, as well as swim at least 2 laps in a pool. If an athlete considers themselves to be a weak swimmer or has not passed a swim test through MMA they should alert the coaches, and additional swim test requirements may be considered on a case by case basis. Coaches will take note of weak swimmers to be aware of in the case of an emergency. 

Weather 

Weather is an important factor in deciding if an on-water practice session can take place. There are several weather conditions for which practicing on the water is not safe. Hypothermia can occur in water below 80℉ and becomes very dangerous when below 50℉. US Rowing recommends a launch is kept within 100 yards of all boats if air temperature is below 40℉ or water temperature is below 50℉. In these conditions, coxswains should also wear survival suits in low temperatures. Extra layers or heavy clothing are not necessarily better as too many can weigh a coxswain down and contribute to drowning. Boats should not be launched if thunder and lightning is forecast for the time of practice.

If a storm begins while on the water, seek shelter as natural water and carbon fiber, the material rowing boats are constructed of, are electrical conductors. 

After lightning detection, thirty minutes without a strike must pass before rowing can begin. 

Weather is at times unpredictable and forecasts can become unreliable. There are several weather events that can cause harm if a person is on a body of water. Boats should not be taken out during a thunder or electrical storm. Lightning can be an extremely dangerous combination with water. Many injuries can be caused, such as neurological symptoms, muscle injuries, or burns. If on water while a thunder or electrical storm begins boats should be brought to shore immediately via the nearest access point. If the boathouse is nearby that is where boats should be docked. However, it is more important to seek shelter than get back to the dock. If you see lightning or hear thunder and your coach or coxswain has not started the steps to get to shore or to find shelter, alert your coxswain (and coach if they are in close proximity) and they will determine the safest option for the team. 

Winds should also be evaluated before going out on the water. Strong winds can cause boats to flip or sink more easily. The head coach will make the final determination if the pond is rowable or not but rowing should not take place if the winds are at a dangerous speed. 

Fog obstructs visibility, increasing the potential for collisions. It is advised that boats do not go out if visibility is less than 100 yards. Additionally, when rowing in fog or with limited sunlight, bow and stern lights should be used. Stern lights should be white and bow lights should be red. 

Procedures 

Person Overboard 

One of the most prominent hazards of rowing is the potential to fall into the water. This can be falling out of a racing shell, coach’s launch, or off of a dock. Conditions could make it difficult for even the most avid swimmers to travel to safety. MMA Rowing carries PFD’s in each coaching launch during practices and a throwable PFD, these can be thrown or

handed to any athlete who displays distress in the water. As mentioned previously, all small boats are required to have a flotation device for each rower in the boat. Modern oars are no longer recognized as an effective PFD. Water can enter through the joints of the handle causing it to fill with water and sink. Oars should not be used as a flotation device. 

Removing An Athlete from a Shell 

Removal of an athlete from a racing shell is an inherently difficult task. The main difficulty is the moving of an athlete from a shell into a coach's launch. The small motor boats used by the MMA coaches are higher off of the water than racing shells. This can make lifting a person from a racing shell into a launch very difficult without further injuring the rower or the people assisting. 

For reference, The University of Washington rowing program has created an extensive resource of procedures for extracting athletes out of shells into different types of boats. These can be found on the University of Washington Water Emergency Training website: University of Washington Water Emergency Training 

In general, oars should be moved out of the way of an approaching motorboat. This can include removing oars from oarlocks for better access, ensuring the boat is as balanced and stable as possible throughout the transition. If the athlete is unresponsive or unable to move themselves into the motorboat for another reason, a rescue strap should be used if it is available. A person can be lifted out of a boat without a strap. If one person is rescuing, the athlete should be lifted from under the arms and pulled into the launch. If there are two rescuers, one should lift from under the arms and the other should hold the ankles and support behind the knees. All coaches and athletes should familiarize themselves with the training videos created by the University of Washington. This will allow them to assist any potential emergency personnel during extraction. 

Damaged Equipment 

Equipment can break and when it does it can pose a safety risk if not properly repaired. Any broken equipment should not be used until it has been fixed or inspected for safety. If something breaks one of the coaches should be notified as soon as possible. If equipment becomes damaged while on the water, the nearest coach should be notified. The coach will then make a decision of whether the damage can be repaired on the water, the boat can be rowed back to the dock, or an emergency docking must take place. If an emergency docking must take place, the boat should be rowed to the nearest access point.

Access Points - Coordinates and Addresses

1. Keith Hartford Sailing Center [Boat House - West] 

a. Address 

i. 43 Trails End Cove Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360 

b. Coordinates 

i. 41.795644° N, -70.568053° W 

2. Great Herring Pond Access Site [Boat Launch - Southern End of Pond] a. Address 

i. 144 Herring Pond Rd, Bourne, MA 02532 

b. Coordinates 

i. 41.786460° N, -70.564020° W

3. Douglas Lane Beach - East Access 

a. Address 

i. 7 Douglas Ln, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA 

b. Coordinates 

i. 41.80008° N, -70.55980° W 

4. Carter’s Bridge Road - Northern Access 

a. Address 

i. 87 Carter's Bridge Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360 

b. Coordinates 

i. 41.81310° N, -70.56729° W

Emergency Contact Information 

In an emergency situation 911 should be the first contact.

Emergency Services

Emergency Dispatch 911

Cedarville Fire/Rescue (Non-emergency) (508) 830-4213

Plymouth Police Department (Non-Emergency) (508) 830-4218

Coaching Staff

Head Rowing Coach 

John Edwards 

(508) 648-0670

Head Dinghy Sailing Coach 

Lisa Downey 

(508) 415-3309

Head Offshore Sailing Coach 

Darryl Murphy 

(508) 264-9721

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Contacts

Head Athletic Trainer Chris Barry (508) 830-5124

Asst. Athletic Trainer Colleen Nolan (508) 830-5125

Public Safety Officer on Duty (508) 830-5238

Health Services Main Desk (508) 830-5048

Director of Athletics Michael Kelley (508) 830-5055

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) 

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Sports Medicine Staff has adopted the following protocol in the event a student-athlete suddenly collapses in cardiac arrest while participating in a varsity team-related activity. 

1. Instruct a team member to call 911. 

2. Instruct a coach or other team member to obtain AED from Boat House or from the Coaches Launch. 

3. Get Student-Athlete out of the boat/water and onto dry land (Access Point) or dry on coaches launch. 

4. Coach or Athlete present will begin CPR and guide rapid use of AED. 5. Continue to monitor communications with EMS and Local/Campus Police. 

Calling 911 

When calling 911 the following information should be prepared to give to emergency services. 

● Event/situation and condition of athlete(s) 

● Your name and phone number 

● Any treatment given by witnesses (CPR, bleeding control, etc.) 

● Location of athlete and nearest access point.