America's Volunteer
Lifesavers

            

Flotilla 86 Venice, FL             www.cgauxvenice.org           7th District

Judi Bidwick, Commander            Juan Hernandez PhD, Vice-Commander

Flotilla Commander's Message

Judi Bidwick, FC

Information

 

Important Notice Best Viewed With Windows Internet Explorer Flotilla Staff Officers                CM - Juan Hernandez                CS -  Denis Keyes                FN -  Janet Heijens                IS   - Harry Bruno                MA - Richard Markwitz                MS - Roman Gzyl                 MT -  Lou Magyar                OP - Jim Sleichert                PA - Al Bidwick                PB - Judi Bidwick                PE - Judi Bidwick                PS - John Kandes                PV - Jerry Mitchell                SR - Ruthanne Bruno                                       General Meeting:               First Tuesday - 1930                  Training Center               On The Water Training               Every Thursday - 0830                Marine Max, Venice

Vice Commander
Juan Hernandez Ph D

 

Fellow members

The summer months are usually quiet, but we have had some interesting events I want to share with you.  We had the opportunity to meet DIRAUX Commander David Allen and participate in the farewell event for Chief Brown during the Division Meeting on July 14, 2007.  Commander Allen wants to make communications and personal contacts with all Flotillas a priority; he has authorized his staff to visit the Flotillas over the next few months.  My impression is that he truly wants to give us the support we need for our activities.  He recommended that we concentrate on safety patrols, training, do bridge inspections, report any unusual activities and make sure that whatever we do increases our credibility.

Chief Brown thanked all members for everything they have done over the past four years; he said that “the good memories I have will be with me during my life time”.  We thanked him for his continued support of our activities.

Finally, we are ready to start the Operational Excellence Program in August, continue our regular training activities for all members and prepare for the fall.  These activities coincide with the time when there is a strong emphasis on using the funds available for fuel – let’s do what we can to take advantage of this opportunity.

Semper Paratus,

Juan Hernandez

 

 

Communications Services
Henry Reynolds, FSO-CS

 

Added to the Flotilla Website “NEW CLASS SCHEDULE” where visitors will be able to get the updated dates and times of our Public Education Program.

Yearly maintenance continues on the Website

Henry Reynolds
FSO-CS

 

 

Marine Safety
Fred Shaneyfelt, FSO-MS

 

FROM THE EDGE OF THE WATER

 We’re into the dog days of summer and keep plugging along. Marine Safety is always looking for grants or programs that can assist us in making our AOR safer and better.

 BoatU.S. Foundation has a Reel In And Recycle! Monofilament Recycling Program. Their intention is to build a nationwide network of monofilament recycling locations to make proper disposal of monofilament.BoatUS will provide the pre-made outdoor recycling bin and some funding to cover installation. All we have to do is install and maintain the recycling location. At this time it is unknown the number of bins we will receive.Marine Safety will install, monitor, empty out and send the monofilament to Berkeley Conservation for processing. 

NOW- I need your help in selecting the locations. Coxswains and crew on safety patrols can help out by checking our outer fishing areas away from the moorings and report location (s) to John (JD) Harrison.        

Fred Shaneyfelt
John Harrison
Marine Safety (Prevention)

 

Member Training
Bud Beeman, FSO-MT

Member Training in August and September will focus on the Operational Excellence Program, as recently described in a training bulletin sent to everyone.  Also l to be included are the qualification and requalification tasks for anyone needing them.  Please review your status.   if you need to qualify or requalify, please let me know so you can be included in the various tasks during those two months.

There will be a QE day this fall; no date has been set at this time.

If you don't know the phonetic alphabet, work on it before the August sessions begin.

Bud Beeman,
FSO/MT FL86

 

Operations
Jim Sleichert, FSO-OP

Personnel Services
Paul F. Corcoran, FSO-PS

 

 Ralph David (Dave) Bascom has received his training to become a new member of our flotilla.  His paperwork was given to DIRAUX recently.  In addition, Dr. James Landis, who is with his family overseas, will initiate his paperwork to join when he returns.

Paul Corcoran,
FSO-PS

Recreation Boating Safety
John Kandes, FSO-RBS

 

I made 10 visits this month to hand out materials to marinas, stores, and libraries.

I also thanked West Marine again for their assistance in allowing our flotilla to set up a display in the Venice store and announcing National Safe Boating Week on their sign in front of the store. 

John Kandes,F
FSO-PV

 

Vessel Examiner
Henry Reynolds, FSO-VE

 

Total Vessels examined to date  251

Total Vessels passed to date     136

  Remember-

                                “Be a safe boater – have a Vessel Safety Check”

Henry Reynolds
FSO-VE

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

When the weather is sizzling hot.

France is one of the world’s hot spots for tourists. Not long ago, that phrase took on a quite literal meaning for visitors and residents alike. In the summer of 2003, a nine-day heat wave hit the country, causing 14,800 more deaths than usual. The United States has had killer heat waves of its own, including one in Chicago in 1995 that was blamed for nearly 500 deaths.

High ozone levels, nights that never cooled off, and understaffed or ill-equipped hospitals may have helped make the French heat wave particularly lethal. But lack of air conditioning was also a major factor, especially in Paris, where the death toll was particularly high.

Such killer heat waves may become more common. Global warming not only raises average temperatures but causes more extreme weather. Moreover, the European and American populations are getting older and heavier and therefore more vulnerable to the effects of heat. By some counts, more Americans died in the 1990s from heat than from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and lightning combined.

Body heat

Heat is a by-product of all metabolic processes. Muscles when they move also generate it. Normally, our bodies do a fine job of shedding the excess. About two-thirds simply radiates from the skin into the cooler air outside our bodies. Most of the rest leaves in sweat evaporating from the skin or in moisture in air exhaled from the lungs.

As the air temperature climbs, the amount of heat radiated from the skin falls, and we have to depend more on the evaporation of sweat. But when it’s humid, sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily because the air is already full of moisture.

Advancing years may make things worse. The older sweat gland becomes fibrotic, so it doesn’t produce as much sweat as it used to. Thirst declines with age, so people get dehydrated, further reducing the amount of sweat. The sweat that is produced tends to contain more salt, so electrolyte imbalance can be a problem. Lack of salt in the body can be just as serious as lack of water because it can lead to sudden drops in blood pressure.

Older people are also more likely than younger folks to be taking medications that cause fluid loss, (and therefore dehydration) including some laxatives, furosemide (Lasix) for water retention, and other diuretics for blood pressure control. The vulnerability of older people to heat is reflected in the mortality statistics from the French heat wave: Slightly more than two-thirds of those who died were age 75 or over.

Here are some suggestions for avoiding heat-related illness:

1. Listen to your body. Muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, impaired concentration, confusion, light-headedness, nausea, labored breathing, chest discomfort, and a rapid or erratic pulse can all be signs of trouble. Heed your body’s warning signals. If you feel ill — even just a little — get to a cool place, drink plenty of cool water, and be sure that help is available if you don’t improve promptly.

2. Head for the AC. Air conditioning is a true lifesaver in a heat wave. Even spending just a few hours in an air-conditioned room helps. Many cities and towns now set up cooling centers during heat waves. There are special programs designed to cut winter heating costs for low-income people, particularly the elderly. Some have suggested that there should be similar “summer cooling” subsidies, perhaps in the form of reduced utility bills.

3. Dress appropriately. Loose, light-colored garments reflect sunlight, making it easier for the skin to cool off and sweat to evaporate.

4. Stay out of the sun, obviously. But you’d be surprised at how many people each summer end up getting sick because they didn’t follow this advice. If you’re at the beach, gardening, or sitting in the bleachers at a ball game, it is easy to forget how much sun you’re getting.

5. Check up on a neighbor. Social isolation is one of the main risk factors for heat-related illness and death. If you know someone who’s older, lives alone, and doesn’t have air conditioning, stop by to check in, and get help if there’s a problem.

6. Review your medications. Some medications have a dulling effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that serves as the body’s thermostat. As a result, people taking those drugs don’t sweat as much as they should. Painkillers may be a hazard because they can reduce awareness of the heat. The fluid loss from Lasix or blood pressure medications normally isn’t a problem, but it can be in hot weather because of the risk of dehydration. Some experts say beta blockers may increase the risk of heatstroke by slowing down the heart. You shouldn’t quit taking a drug just because it’s hot outside, but you might talk to your doctor about your medications if temperatures are climbing, especially if you’re not protected by air conditioning.

Heat-related illness: From bad to worse Heat cramps. Heat cramps are muscle cramps caused by profuse sweating, usually during exercise, and the consequent loss of electrolytes (salts). You have to be careful in high-heat, low-humidity areas like the American Southwest where you may not notice how much you’re sweating because the moisture evaporates so fast. You can deal with a mild case of heat cramps by eating salty foods and drinking sports beverages like Gatorade. But Gatorade is sugary, so it has a lot of calories and may not be worth the sodium and potassium boost. The sports drinks — and salt tablets — aren’t necessary unless you’re sweating quite a bit. Heat exhaustion. Typical symptoms include weakness, lethargy, wooziness, headache, and nausea. Muscle cramps may also occur. Because heat exhaustion clouds thinking, people often don’t recognize the problem as it develops. Serious cases require intravenous fluids and electrolytes. For a mild case, get the person to a cool place and see to it that he or she has fluids to drink, preferably with some salt. Heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency — the killer in the killer heat wave. It may start out feeling like heat exhaustion, but the symptoms progress and are more severe: Lethargy, weakness, and confusion develop into delirium, stupor, seizures, and even coma. Body temperature rises drastically, often exceeding 106° F. In younger people, the pulse tends to race. In older people, it’s usually slow and weak, and blood pressure may drop. Despite the excess heat, the victim’s skin looks pale and feels dry because normal sweating has stopped. People suffering from heatstroke need to have their body temperatures brought down quickly to prevent permanent cardiovascular, neurological, and other types of damage. Often a cool bath is the best way to do that. Cool compresses on the neck, in the armpits, or in the groin area also quickly lower body temperature.

Article submitted by
Guenther H Hennig