BAMSAR MINUTES
Minutes of the March, 2005, BAMSAR meeting, held at Coast Guard Group Moriches. Thanks to Commander John Healey, Ltjg. Kris Tsairis, and CWO Dennis Casey for their hospitality.
Present: Patchogue, Brookhaven, Mastic Beach, Mastic, Center Moriches, Group Moriches, Eastport.
Excused: Bellport.
Old Business:
Dive Rescue 1 is all set up for Brookhaven for the 20th-22nd of May.
Dive Rescue 2 (Columbus Day weekend; 08, 09, 10 October) needs a sponsor. If you’re interested, please let Tim Dahlen know as soon as possible.
Scott Parris (Patchogue) brought along some samples of laminated signal cards for divers and tenders. The gentleman from Brookhaven who also makes the type of ID card we’d like to use, has some samples ready, but, was unable to make the meeting.
John will start revising the BAMSAR matrix this month.
Boating Safety Week activities were discussed. Bill Biondi’s recommendation that we go visit local marinas and hand out boating safety literature was agreed upon. Cmdr. Healey recommended that we get with Mr. J. Cornell, of the Auxiliary, and set up something. Auxiliary could provide any courtesy safety checks that boaters may wish to avail themselves of. Secretary will work on that.
Pool drill at Brookhaven Lab paid for. Seven guys went. We probably won’t be doing the Lab again next year, due to more stringent security and access rules. We’ll keep open the option of using the Suffolk Community College (Brentwood) pool.
Bill is working with the Chiefs of Miller Place, Rocky Point, Sound Beach, Mount Sinai, and Stony Brook, to set up meetings between us and their dive teams.
New Business:
The preplan for the Inlet was discussed. As part of the discussion, Scott Rosato (Mastic) asked if there were any Coast Guard training in boat handling that would for allow more Inlet-qualified coxswains, from all of the water rescue teams in the plan. Both Cmdr. Healey and CWO Casey recommended that we contact a Mr. E. Michaels, of East Hampton Town PD, who gives such a course in vessel operations. They believe that this may also carry a New York State certification.
Discussion was held on standardizing underwater communications, using wireless communicators, and that all these communicators be on only one frequency. Currently, two companies make these devices, but the frequencies are not compatible. Additionally, thought should be given to buying quick-disconnect couplings for the full face masks, so that the masks may be interchanged with another set of equipment. This would enable masks to be “shared” (after a quick cleaning) between two divers, without having to take the whole pack out of service, and disassembling the same, in order to move the full facepiece from one pack to another.
Materials have been received from Her Majesty’s Coast Guard (Britain) that pertain to the establishment, equipping and training of mud rescue teams. We have places in our area of operations, in which these procedures would be of use (Seatuck Creek, between the railway trestle and Montauk Highway; Forge River, between the railway trestle and Montauk Highway, are two examples).
A Safety Alert has been issued for flare gun malfunctions in flare guns manufactured prior to 2000, by Olin (now Orion Safety Products). The guns opening mechanism may fail to open completely enough to accept a 12 gauge flare shell. If the breach will not open wide enough to accept a cartridge, the guns need to be sent back for replacement. Guns that have been modified to correct this deficiency bear the Coast Guard approval code 160 028//12/1. Defective guns should be sent to Orion Safety Products, Marine Division, 3157 N. 500W, Peru, Indiana, 46970. Orion may be contacted at 1(800)851-5620.
Training:
Dive Rescue 1: Brookhaven FD, host. $340/man. Dates are 20, 21 & 22 May. Dive Rescue International has an application on its website: www.diverescueintl.com. Or, you can let Tim Dahlen know at our next meeting.
Next meeting: Thursday, 14 April, 2005, at 1930, at Center Moriches.
April 14th Center Moriches
May 12th Hampton Dive Center, Riverhead
June 09th Bellport
July 14th South Country
August 11th Brookhaven
September 08th Eastport
October 13th Bayport
November 10th Mastic
No December Meeting
Any corrections, additions, or questions; please contact the Secretary.
Respectfully,
John Foley