[Psml] Flare and Fire Extinquisher practice

[John & Judy Gill]

R.D. and List,

Our experience was much different than those of Bob Sweet and Dick  
Remski.

Below is the full article we wrote for The Ensign (which was greatly  
condensed in the January issue).

The problem is not one of having someone "demonstrate" FE and PD but  
having members actually perform these skill sets in accordance with  
the USPS BOC criteria.

D/Lt John R. Gill, AP
D/5 Ch/Cruise Planning

----------------------------------------------------------------------

PERSEVERANCE PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR PD TRAINING

Pennsway (PA) Power Squadron members, John and Judy Gill, both  
Advanced Pilots, are avid boaters and long range cruisers.  In  
addition to John being a Life Member of USPS and Judy a Women’s  
Certificate Holder since 1964 they are both members of the Orillia  
Power Squadron, CPS-ECP;  also, charter members of the Americas Great  
Loop Cruisers Association.  Having completed Great Loop aboard their  
36 ft Carver Mariner, the Two J’s V they became interested in  
chartering boats to cruise foreign waters.  The new USPS Boat  
Operator Certification Program was touted as providing the  
qualifications required by charter companies in Europe and other  
areas.  So, in addition to the Advanced Grade and Elective Courses  
already taken, they began taking the required USPS University  
Seminars and working on the Skill Set requirements to obtain “Coastal  
Navigation” Certification.

The USPS University Seminars were relatively easy to schedule between  
those offered at District 5 Conferences and their Squadron.  However,  
the Skill Set Requirements presented a very big challenge,  
particularly the Fire Extinguisher and Pyrotechnic Devices (Visual  
Distress Signals).  Attempts to organize and implement these Skill  
Sets for their Squadron’s members by the Gill’s were turned down by  
three local township volunteer fire companies and the NAS Joint  
Reserve Base Willow Grove in Horsham, PA.   It was so frustrating  
that at one point John declared that these requirements were  
“Unattainable Objectives” and was ready to kick the problem back to D/ 
5 officials to provide these training sessions at District meetings.   
They found that local township officials were most cooperative when  
it came to putting on demonstrations to groups, but when told that  
Squadron members had to actually put out a real fire; light and hold  
a hand held flare or smoke signal and also fire a 12 gauge aerial  
flare gun, they wanted no part of the program whatsoever.  There are  
several reasons for the lack of cooperation.  Many local officials  
(including State or City Marine Police, Fire Departments and some in  
the Coast Guard) do not know who or what USPS is or about our mission  
of Safe Boating Through Education.  Nor have they heard about the  
United Nations Resolution # 40 or the Boat Operator Certification  
program.

Delaware River Power Squadron to the rescue.  John and Judy have been  
associate members of DRPS since 1977 and knew that they held their  
meetings at the Coast Guard Station in Philadelphia and perhaps a  
joint Squadron training session could be the answer to completing  
these skill sets.  As it turned out, DRPS was also working with the  
Penns Landing Corporation to participate in their annual Safe Boating  
Day activities in Philadelphia.  Cdr. Alexander Reilley, AP and SEO P/ 
C Andrew Petruska, P pitched the idea of the Squadrons putting on  
Visual Distress Signal demonstrations to the public and at the same  
time Certifying members for the BOC program.  Mrs. Monica Santoro -  
Naval Ship and Vessel Coordinator, Penn’s Landing Corporation, the  
safe boating day event organizer loved the idea.  By noon the next  
day she had obtained the approvals and necessary permits from the  
Coast Guard, the Philadelphia Marine Police, and the Philadelphia  
Fire Department.  WOW we finally had a venue to conduct this  
important PD training.  The next breakthrough came from Pennsway’s A/ 
O, P/C Harry Harp, JN who had been trying to help John find a venue  
for the training.  Harry had contacted the Orion Safety Products  
Company located in Wenonhah, NJ.  Mr. Kerry Stark, Marine Sales  
Manager offered his assistance and was put in contact with John.

On Sunday, 1 June it all came together at the Penns Landing Marina in  
Philadelphia.  Delaware River and Pennsway Power Squadrons put up  
displays and Mr. Stark brought a complete array of all the Orion  
Safety Products for marine use.  For safety sake, the display  
products were special Inert items that could not be discharged if  
picked up by children.  Kerry Stark demonstrated the proper use of  
hand held flares, smoke signals and the aerial flare gun.  He also  
showed everyone the use of their special water dye that turns a large  
patch of water a bright green color.  Nine Squadron members were able  
to light both hand held flares and smoke signals, and fire one or  
more aerial flares from the 12 gauge pistols and therefore become  
certified in the use of Pyrotechnic Devices by D/Lt John Gill, AP and  
D/Lt Larry Graham,SN of Susquehannock Power Squadron who is the D/5  
Ch/BOC.  We also invited two USCGAux members to become PD certified  
as well as Monica Santoro and her husband Frank who are boaters and  
potential USPS members.

For the most part, out of date flares and smoke signals were used,  
but Orion Safety Products did provide new product for our use.  It  
became quite clear that out of date product did not perform nearly as  
well as fresh items, particularly the height achieved by the aerial  
flares.  A couple of additional safety measures were added to the  
USPS set of Instructions for PD training.  We utilized a metal  
washtub (could have been a metal bucket) with about 4 inches of  
dampened play sand, to contain the dripping slag from the hand held  
flares and also as a place to allow the spent flares and smoke  
signals cool completely.  We were advised by the Orion representative  
to NOT look at the burning tip of a flare as it can cause eye damage  
(like looking at a welding torch).  We also learned that flares will  
continue to burn if dropped in the water!  We found that wearing a  
fireproof glove on the hand striking the flares (with the index  
finger inside the striking cap) to ignite them, to be too bulky, as  
well as when pulling the trigger of the aerial flare gun pistol.

Our conclusion is that this is most valuable skill set training and  
that the time to learn how to use these Visual Distress Signals is  
not in an emergency situation.  Even if Squadron members are not  
interested in obtaining Boat Operator Certifications, the USPS  
University Seminars and Skill Sets are most beneficial.

D/Lt John R. Gill, AP
D/Lt Judith Ann (Judy) Gill (AP)


(word count 1037)



On Jul 15, 2009, at 12:58 PM, rdaybell at earthlink.net wrote:

> Our squadron would like to set up a Flare shoot and fire  
> extinguisher practice session for our members to gain some hands on  
> experience with these safety devices using expired flares.  We  
> understand that these type events have taken place elsewhere in the  
> country and would appreciate hearing about the process to get  
> permissions from the appropriate agencies to do the practice.  Also  
> the flare manufacturer representatives to contact for assistance  
> with such an event.
>
> R.D. Daybell
> ________________________________________
>