A safety inspection of a tour boat is being carried out in response to an accident in which a tour boat with 26 passengers and crew was distressed off the coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.
(* In the latter half of the article, we have posted what to do if you should fall into the water)
Check life jackets, floats, etc.
Of these, the Choshi Coast Guard Department conducts safety inspections of pleasure boats and fishing boats every year before the long holidays, but due to the accident of a sightseeing boat that occurred off the coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula, it is safe to move the schedule forward. I did an inspection.
On the 23rd, a safety inspection was conducted on a sightseeing boat observing dolphins and whales off the coast of Choshi City, and a coast guard officer boarded a sightseeing boat with a capacity of 40 people moored at Choshi Marina. I carefully checked whether it was properly installed and the engine room inside the ship.
Yukiyoshi Oshiro, chief of the Transportation Division of the Choshi Coast Guard, said, "I was able to confirm the safety measures for the tour boat. I would like to carry out further safety inspections to prevent accidents like Shiretoko in the future." ..
Operating company "Safety first is a lesson again"
On the other hand, Yukio Miyauchi, director of the Choshi Ocean Institute, the operator of the tour boat that was inspected, said, "Even if 40 people are full, we will cancel it if the weather is bad. Finally, we can set sail. It is our job to put safety first, human life first, and have fun and come back again. "
According to Mr. Miyauchi, who is also the captain of the ship, for safe operation, he always inspects tools such as engines and life jackets every time he operates, and also checks the weather forecast from a week ago and keeps constant. If the above wind speed is expected, it means that we will consider canceling the flight on that day.
He also said that if a fisherman who was out fishing advised him to stop the operation, or if he felt that the wind or waves were dangerous at sea, he would explain to the passengers and then return.
Following the accident on the sightseeing boat in Shiretoko, Director Miyauchi said, "We are also in pain as our peers. We must remind ourselves that safety is our top priority. The cost of safety measures for ships It will take a while, but as long as I go out to the sea, I want to take thorough measures. "
Beware of hypothermia to save lives
Some people may be planning water leisure activities such as the sea and rivers before the Golden Week holidays.
We interviewed Hidetoshi Saito, the chairman of the Water Accident Society, in detail about what to do if he should fall into the water after the accident in Shiretoko.
Saito points out that it is necessary to be careful about hypothermia even during leisure activities such as the sea and rivers during the Golden Week holidays.
The reason is "temperature difference".
Recently, there are many days when the maximum temperature exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, but in spring, the water temperature is still low even if the temperature rises.
This temperature difference causes hypothermia and heart attack.
Mr. Saito says, "At the waterside such as the sea and rivers, I want you to play only when the water temperature has risen to nearly 20 degrees."
If the water temperature is 10 degrees or higher, use "back float"
What should I do if I fall into the water?
Saito points out that if the water temperature is 10 degrees or higher, there is a way to extend the survival time.
It means "float on the surface of the water with your back on your back and wait for rescue without moving as much as possible".
If you can maintain this posture, you can easily breathe and the water in your clothes will be warmed by your body temperature.
If this water doesn't go out of your clothes, you won't be deprived of your body temperature and your survival time may be extended.
Mr. Saito emphasized, "Be sure to wear a life jacket when playing near the water so that you can easily do this'back float'."