[Life jackets, really?]

57 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

This would be the same WHO that recommended flights from China to the West continued when Covid broke out there? 

 

 

yup

[Life jackets, really?]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

And no amount of posters saying "I always give them *loads* or room, helmet or not" will change the fact that multiple studies in different countries have shown that drivers -- on average! -- give less clearance to cyclists wearing helmets, and that the accident rate is lower among non-helmet-wearers... 😞

 

Yes when accidents happen there is a reduction in head injuries if you wear a helmet, but then in many fatal accidents head injuries are not the cause of death.

 

Even ignoring the reduced cycling use if helmets are made compulsory -- which has a big negative effect on public health, far exceeding the benefits of helmet-wearing -- several studies have concluded that helmet-wearing out of choice doesn't reduce the risk of severe injury or death and may actually increase it, partly due to the fact that drivers take less care with cyclists as a result.

 

If people choose to wear a helmet because it makes them feel safer then that's their choice, but it may well be a misguided one as far as actual -- as opposed to percieved -- safety is concerned.

 

 to be honest  I thought you were cherry picking your  search results to suit your argument.  a bit of googleiing (if any word exists) shows   quite a few independent global studies back you up. so happy to be wrong about that. 

interestingly the world health organization while they admit the potential risks that you have outlined still recommend the wearing of helmets .

[Life jackets, really?]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

No, the experts and people who actually researched this issue know best, not you (or me)... 🙂

 

Your own experience is an anecdote, not evidence -- it's what drivers (and cyclists) do as a whole that determines the accident rate, not you personally.

 

Just like saying "I'm a good driver, why has my insurance premium gone up?" -- the answer being that accident rates/costs for each cohort of drivers has gone up... 😞

Are the Netherlands the only country that have researched this ?

if I picked another random country, say Finland, or Canada  . would their government think tanks have drawn similar conclusions and have similar policies in place ?

[Woodburners in Bedrooms]

8 minutes ago, TNLI said:

 

 

They have been using rapid response SUV's with a lot less than 1000 gallons in London, it was the fine mist water spray that impressed me, although they also use portable foam extinguishers. Not sure what the bigger fire trucks have these days.

Oddly enough high voltage electrical fires on small boats are very rare, and obviously turning the gen set off might help. 

 

I've been trained to deal with both aircraft cabin fires and boat fires, and I can assure you that trying to put a fire out with a typical dry powder extinguisher does not work too well, and can be dangerous due to their limited range, as you have to get far too close.  A longer range hose or more powerful full size water extinguisher is far safer and more effective. Obviously people do move clear of a fire, but I've been at one incident where everyone moved clear of a burning motor bike, until some clown went to his car and returned with a small dry powder extinguisher and tried to put the fire out, but he could not get close enough, so it made no difference and he burnt his hands in the attempt. A full size portable or even a garden hose would have helped a lot more. 

I'm surprised the BSS says 3 small dry powder extinguishers and not one small and one full size longer range unit, although 2 and a water hose would be better.

Fire blankets are a must have item, as they do work well on small galley fires in particular.

 

I took a look at the Amerex web site, and get the impression that you might not be able to refill their new water extinguishers, which is a real pity, as it did allow the crew to have some fun when it was hot. I even used one to clean the outside of the hull recently.

 

 

 

 

A fine mist spray may work wonders  but a fully engaged car fire is bloody hot and you would be best to cool it down from a distance  first  Not possible with your fine mist .

I have no clue what they are putting out fires with in London  but I would be amazed if these vehicles were not  designed to tap into another  water supply . 

Our protocols ( not  in the uk ) is to roll with 3000 gallons.  We won't use that (unless it's a Tesla which may possibly use another 5000)  but we would look bloody stupid if we ran out of water and I have been on some stubborn ones that just dont want to be put out . We also would finish off with a coating of class A foam 

 I have no idea if this is used in the uk either . 

 

Yes fire blankets can be great . You can even get those for car fires too.

 

Dont use a fire extinguisher ,or a garden hose though . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Woodburners in Bedrooms]

23 hours ago, TNLI said:

If your car or engine catches fire the local fire brigade will probably use a fine water spray to put it out,

Sorry this isn't true at all . I dont believe any fire dept would also tackle a car fire without a minimum of 1000 gallons . You would need a pretty big fire extinguisher for that 

Electrical fires best advice I ever got was turn the power off and turn it into a class A . which  would not always be possible depending on location of fire on a narrowboat.

So my recommendation would be if you dont know what you are doing (and trust me you dont , which is not a slight as why would you) get off the boat , your possessions can be replaced . You can't .

23 hours ago, TNLI said:

 

 

 

[Responsible or Irresponsible Tier 3 Cruising?]

35 minutes ago, Jerra said:

So how do you get the unconscious person down the ladder?   I will ask if it still happens I know he has had to do it.

And often those down below what I always hear called the "shiny A**es" so called because they do desk jobs are critical of the standards set.   They often feel the highups have forgotten what being on the front line actually entails. 

It's not that physical ,more around the technique. 

I have been  carred down ladders by female firefighters on a couple of occasions during training and that would include extra weight of the bunker gear I would have been wearing .

 

I would also add ,some of the best firefighters I know are female and I would trust them  to have my back in any situation.

[Acceptable CO levels on boat??]

The gas detector  for out fire dept is set  for carbon monoxide  at around 50 parts per million.. anything more than that will send it into alarm .  So would considered safe without breathing apparatus , presuming  no other alarm was triggered.

 

To add though, this would be after some type of incident so presumably levels would drop further  and I believe for safe long term exposure should be way lower than this , around 10 (ish)