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Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Karen Grimmer (left) and Deirdre Hall practice a "man overboard" drill aboard the sanctuary vessel SHARK CAT. Photo: Brad Damitz/MBNMS |
By Gail Krueger and David Hall
The cry “Man overboard!” was heard at a number of NOAA’s national marine sanctuaries last month. There was also a wave of fires, hurricanes, and even earthquakes. In each case the response was quick and no lives were lost.
These were only mock disasters, staged during the sanctuary program’s first annual “Safety Week.” But should such events actually occur sanctuary staff will be well prepared, thanks to an intense week of hands-on safety programs and drills.
At sanctuaries throughout the 14-site National Marine Sanctuary System, staff learned how to handle everything from heart attacks to hazardous waste spills.
Because many sanctuary staffers spend time on or under the water, boat and diver safety drills were an important part of the safety stand-down.
At several sanctuaries, staff members simulated boat evacuations by donning bright orange immersion, or “Gumby,” suits and jumping into the water. Each orange-clad staffer then drifted toward a life raft or sanctuary vessel and practiced climbing aboard.
Sanctuary staff also practiced various forms of “man overboard” drills. In each case, lessons were learned.
“We now know which sanctuary boat we have to use to get people out of the water and transport them to safety,” said Steve Baumgartner, operation manager for the lower region of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. “One particular boat worked out very well. We would definitely turn to that one first [in that situation].”
“The entire program made me feel that I, too, could help in a dive or other emergency on either of the sanctuary’s boats,” said Becky Shortland, policy coordinator for Gray’s Reef Sanctuary. Shortland and other non-diving members of the Gray’s Reef staff often go out with researchers as assistants and observers on both research dives and routine patrols.
Safety Week was not confined to boating safety drills, however. Staff throughout the sanctuary system, including its Silver Spring headquarters, reviewed emergency procedures, supplies and equipment.
“Our safety stand-down is about more than just safe boating,” said NOAA Capt. Ted Lillestolen, NMSP’s deputy director for facilities, vessels, aircraft and safety. “It’s a host of carefully-planned, comprehensive training exercises for all sanctuary program staff, regardless of where they work. We want to be sure that when people come to sanctuaries, they are in an environment that is as safe as we can make it.”
“This was a very important learning experience,” said Sarah Fangman, the Safety Week coordinator for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. “I was really pleased to see how seriously my colleagues took this day of training. They were fully engaged, asked really important questions and offered fantastic ideas on how we could better prepare ourselves for emergency situations.”
“This has been a valuable opportunity for team-building as well as an important commitment to safety,” said Gray’s Reef Sanctuary Manager Reed Bohne.
While the sanctuary program plans to make Safety Week an annual event, Lillestolen and NMSP Director Daniel J. Basta say the sanctuary program won’t wait a year before updating emergency procedures and providing additional safety training to staff. “It will be an ongoing activity,” said Lillestolen.
“We value the health and well-being of our employees, those who volunteer in our sanctuaries, those who visit them, and those who conduct research in them. That’s what’s driving this effort.” said Basta. “Like our other NOAA colleagues, we know that safety is our first responsibility.” -- [Click here for field site reports]
