9th Seat » safety http://www.9thseat.com the brainchild of Mary Whipple, Olympic gold medalist coxswain of the US women's eight. Here you'll find informative blog posts, tips and tricks, and opportunities to learn from the best! Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:30:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Ergs don’t float so why should coxswains without a PFD?! http://www.9thseat.com/coxswain-training/ergs-dont-float-so-why-should-coxswain-without-a-pfd/ http://www.9thseat.com/coxswain-training/ergs-dont-float-so-why-should-coxswain-without-a-pfd/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:39:37 +0000 Mary Whipple http://www.9thseat.com/?p=225 PFD

Hi Everyone,

I just got an e-mail from Peter giving me a heads up on a very serious topic.  To sum up the point make sure your coach’s launch has a life jacket for you too!  Check out what Peter says.

Hi Mary,
It came to my attention during a safety audit that the US Rowing recommended “crash box” has only 8 life jackets in it….. and an 8+ has nine seats, hence your excellent web site. It is most likely an oversight as they are “8′s” …right… and the people who assemble the kits are most likely not rowers…

Still, having the Safety Kits kits one short in the life jacket department is a dangerous oversight and possibly a violation of some county code, many state ones and for sure the US Coast Guard ones.

Yes, the Concept -2 sweeps are “considered” a “Type -3 ” flotation device, but try and convince a Deputy Sheriff of that, or a lawyer bent on a “negligence” finding…

As the coach of a start up YMCA rowing program, I have to meet both local ordinances, YMCA rules and soon US Rowing requirements. I am sending a similar message to Willey Black at US Rowing and as one of the occupants of the 9th seat I would appreciate help seeing this safety oversight corrected. It is a simple thing to put 9 life-jackets in the kit..

Spread the word.

–mwhip+

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