Sea Survival Training Centre

People who work offshore or sail yachts should do a sea survival course. Aircrew have to do survival training, just in case the worst happens and they might need it some day. Crewmembers are required to receive this type of training once every three years to stay proficient with the equipment and techniques used in various water survival situations.

It all depends heavily upon instinctive recall, in order to keep you alive in dire situations. Therefore, it's beneficial to refresh these trained skills on a regular basis, to maintain that knowledge base, from which one day you may need to pull from to stay alive.

Lifeguard Job

I worked at such a training centre as a lifeguard, watching over survival, evasion, resistance and escape water exercises. My task was to go into the pool with the trainees so I'm right there should someone need assistance.

Because I needed to be fast and agile during a potential rescue, I didn't wear a lifevest and stayed slightly back from the action. he poolside lifeguard kept an eye on me.

To optimise pool use, the heli team was in the water during the theory session of the liferaft team, who then came to practice with the raft. This ran several times a day, usually with an about half hour break in between.

"It's not too cold once you start swimming," said the station commander. The pool temperature was around 24°C so it was required to dress well.

After each session I changed into dry clothes to stay warm, up to six times a day. They had a lot of kit available. The drying room was so hot that my clothes were ready again the next day.

Liferaft Sea Safety Training

SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.

The course started with a theory session basically an introduction to sea survival, such as proper use of lifejackets, types distress signals, and immersion suits capable of keeping body with a warmth temperature.

The practical part was in the pool for the exersises, fully clothed in offshore gear with lifejackets. We did a proper formation of swimming technics, swimming groups, how to inflate life raft. The key element for sea survival is definitely a team work.

A raft was pushed into the pool and the trainees had to jump in and somehow get into the raft. I just wore the outer waterproof layer over comfy thermals which was lighter but kept me warm enough.

This gave a first experience of what its like to have your life jacket inflated, as well as the claustrophobic atmosphere within a life raft. The course was a good laugh despite its serious subject.

Helicopter Water Ditching

HUET：Helicopter Underwater Escape Training

This was a bit easier. This course taught what to do if you are in a helicopter during an emergency at sea.

The trainees sat in a cabin that got dumped into the pool and begins to sink. Water levels rose until they are about waist deep, then it capsized. The skill was in getting out safely. I always sat in the last row where I could see what was happening.

For the heli sessions trainees could wear what they like, as long as they were fully clothed for realistic training. I usually wore jeans, socks and canvas shoes, long sleeve top and often a hoodie or anorak.

It was always a cool feeling when the heli cabin filled with water, soaking my jeans. Then it suddenly turned on its side and we all had to find our way out. Great fun.