OSCAR – Not just a Water Rescue Training Dummy

Thanks to the Schmale Lab at Virginia Tech sharing this video of our OSCAR – Water Rescue Training Dummy being used for their experiments.
Our portable oscar mannequin is primarily used for man overboard training or practicing swift water rescue techniques, but the Schmale Lab gave new meaning to our water rescue dummy as part of a highly intelligent program to monitor tracking agents in water to aid in research on hazardous spills and search and rescue.
We’re proud that our “Marine Man” as part of our overboard products, can be part of research at a nationally recognized research university!

ALERT418 Man-Overboard Alarm System Introduction Video Now Available

Curious about our two ALERT Man-Overboard Alarm Systems? This new video provides information about the ALERT2 and ALERT418 systems. Their similarities and the improvements made with the new ALERT418 system.

Time to Think about MOB Retrieval Training

OSCAR – Water Rescue Training Dummy available in two colors.

Even though snow and ice is covering a good portion of North America, soon the ice will thaw and rivers will rise due to melting snow and ice. Spring is a great time to think about Man-Overboard drills and rescue operations using a dummy that will provide a realistic “victim” without placing any of your employees in harms way.

“We are seeing a lot of tugboat, towboat, and barge companies purchase the OSCAR Water Rescue Training Dummy as part of their training and demonstration of Man-Overboard drills, specifically for Subchapter M compliance.” reported Robert Linder President of Emerald Marine Products. “We can now make OSCAR available in its usual forest green color or a highly visible orange, but either color it’s a great training device with it’s portable 35 pound weight to get to a testing site and then 180 pounds when filled with water and ready for a rescue drill.” continued Mr. Linder. More information is available at our website or OSCAR’s specific website of www.oscarwaterrescue.com.

Looking for the Watch Commander?

Watch Commander product

Watch Commander was a product produced by Emerald Marine Products in the late 1990’s. Dedicated to maritime safety, EMP made a product that helped solo sailors keep alert while on watch. Here is a short description of the product…

“Checking the horizon frequently is important. On an offshore passage, it is easy to forget or get distracted. The Watch Commander won’t let you. Connect to the ships batteries, select your desired time interval and it is on duty for the entire passage. There is no danger that you will forget to set it like a kitchen timer or sleep through it like a watch. Every time you check the horizon, push the button to restart the timing cycle. If you forget, are hurt or have fallen overboard, the Watch Commander will beep, gently at first so as not to wake up the off watch, but after 30 seconds, a siren sounds loud enough to wake up everyone on board.”

Unfortunately, EMP no longer sells the Watch Commander, but it is available through Lunde Electronics located in Seattle Washington. You can contact Darren Lundsford at 206-789-3011 and he will be able to help you obtain a Watch Commander.

Good News about OSCAR!

OSCAR – Water Rescue Training Dummy available in two colors.

Now available for special order is a high visibility Orange version of our popular OSCAR – Water Rescue Training Dummy(TM). Please specify the Orange version when ordering. Buy now as OSCAR – Water Rescue Training Dummy price increases to $749 on February 1, 2018.

R/V Thompson off coast from Emerald Marine Products

R/V Thomas G. Thompson pays a visit to Emerald Marine Products

Can you imagine our surprise today as we were testing an ALERT2 Receiver bound for the R/V Thomas G. Thompson (currently in midlife overhaul) when we saw the R/V Thomas G. Thompson from our building. The Thompson is currently undergoing sea trials in Puget Sound. It was a great feeling knowing the product we were testing for use as their Man-Overboard Alarm System was just a mile from our facilities.

Man-Overboard alert on Rosepoint Softwware.

COLD WEATHER COMPOUNDS MAN-OVERBOARD SITUATION

Man-Overboard alert on Rosepoint Software.

Whether on deck or shoreside, frigid weather is fatiguing and increases the chance of falling, especially when restrictive clothing that hinders normal balance is worn. If someone goes overboard, the situation is compounded by cold water shock. Emerald Marine Products’ ALERT Man-Overboard System is a simple, proven solution that instantly notifies those within the immediate area. It provides rescuers the extra seconds needed to keep the fall from becoming a fatality.
Water that’s only 60° is cold enough to generate muscle spasms, a gasp reflex and hyperventilation if fallen into. Sudden immersion can paralyze muscles and even cause a cardiac arrest. Unlike warm water, the MOB victim is unlikely to be able to shout. That’s what makes the ALERT System ideal for cold-weather workers.
In its most basic form, the ALERT system is a water-activated transmitter worn on a lifejacket and a receiver, typically installed in a wheelhouse or job office. When the device is submerged, it triggers the receiver’s alarm and flashing light, instantly notifying coworkers. The system can be wired to kill engines, set a chartplotter or GPS waypoint, and activate external strobes and speakers.

ALERT418 at WorkBoat Show!

ALERT418 Receiver and Transmitter.

Emerald Marine Products announces a significant advancement in MOB protection: the state-of-the-art ALERT418® Man-Overboard Receiver. Integrating fully with current and first-generation ALERT transmitters, it’s ideal for commercial applications such as workboats, gas and oil platforms, ports and marine terminals, and shoreside construction sites. The innovative device leverages the latest advancements in electronics technology, while maintaining its predecessor’s proven and enviable safety record.

When an ALERT transmitter is submerged, the ALERT418 receiver instantly flashes and sounds a piercing alarm in a wheelhouse or shoreside office.

The ALERT418 Man-Overboard Receiver interfaces with popular NMEA 0183-compliant chartplotting software, so a waypoint can automatically be set upon transmitter activation. Additionally, it can be wired to kill engines, and activate external strobes and speakers.

What separates the ALERT system from AIS is its immediacy. It uses a radio signal, so there’s no satellite lag or waiting for an open channel. With a moving vessel, or river or tidal flow, an MOB victim can be swept out of sight quickly. The ALERT418 Man-Overboard Receiver provides the added seconds needed to keep a simple fall from becoming a fatality.

The ALERT418 product line will be available for demonstration at the Byrne, Rice & Turner Booth 1521 at this year’s Workboat show being held from November 29th through December 1 in New Orleans.

For further information contact Emerald Marine Products at 800-426-4201. Hope to see you at the show!

All Too Common Headline

Blessing of the Fleet at Fishermen’s Terminal

Once again the headline reads, “Man Vanishes from Fishing Boat.” Unfortunately, this story repeats throughout the year. Either a lone fisherman or someone working their watch falls overboard and no one is aware of the situation until far too late.

Recently a 55-year old fisherman from New Bedford, Massachusetts became the latest fisherman fatality due to a fall overboard. This fisherman left behind a wife and daughter. Coming from a family of fishermen, he knew of the dangers of the industry, having both of his grandfather’s lost at sea. What makes this story all too familiar and tragic is this fisherman’s life may have been spared if he simply wore a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Taking it a step farther, the small investment in a fall overboard alarm system could have alerted the crew of a fall overboard situation or have killed the engine of the boat for the opportunity to get back onboard.

The staff at Emerald Marine Products always feel a personal loss when a death occurs from a fall overboard. Our products are built to protect mariners and their families. We are driven every day by the motivation that our products can help to save lives, companies, and a source of income for those dependent on them.

Emerald Marine Products is moved by this tragedy to reach out to the fishing community, especially to those solo fishermen or small family-owned fishing fleets to seriously consider investing in wearing and using PFD’s. We promise to do all we can to make our ALERT product available to you at a discount so finances are not the issue in preventing fishermen from using a fall overboard alarm system.

We encourage solo fishermen, small fishing companies, non-profits catering to the commercial fishing industry, such as Fishermen’s Wives Groups, to contact us and see if we can help protect their fleets, We’d love to see the all too familiar headline have a better end to the story. A headline that reads, “Fisherman Falls Overboard and is Rescued by Crew.” The crew was alerted in time to find the fisherman who was afloat thanks to his PFD. Life saved, a story with a much better ending then the one’s we read all too often.

Instructors Agree on OSCAR Water-Rescue Training Dummy

Recovering someone who has fallen into the water is no easy task, especially if the victim is unconscious or lethargic due to cold temperatures. Training is essential to prepare potential rescuers for how difficult it can actually be. The OSCAR Water-Rescue Training Dummy™ from Emerald Marine Products is used by safety instructors across North America for teaching people what it’s like to retrieve a lifeless, 180 lb. adult.

“It’s definitely eye-opening,” says Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) instructor and US Coast Guard civilian commercial fishing vessel safety examiner Steve Kee. “It drives the point home that it’s not easy to yank a crewmember back on board.”

US Code of Federal Regulations 28.270 calls for those in charge of a commercial fishing vessel to conduct monthly safety drills to ensure everyone is familiar with their duties, including recovering someone from the water. Kee provides the 10- and 18-hour USCG-accepted drill conductor training to those who will oversee the monthly training sessions.

Atlantic Beach Rescue department chief Jonathan Kohan agrees. “From a command and control perspective, you want to train like you operate. It’s hard to put rescuers in real time situations when they haven’t trained in critical mass. It’s very different than lifting a straw or Styrofoam dummy.”

Situated on a barrier island, the small community of Atlantic Beach, New York, swells in the summer months to 15,000 people. Atlantic Beach Rescue is a first response agency with 38 volunteer rescuers. Its technical water team trains year-round.

OSCAR is a set of rugged vinyl bladders that when filled with fresh or seawater, realistically mimic the size, weight and jointed handling characteristics of a 6′, 180 lb. adult. Fitted with a PFD or immersion suit, it imitates a lifeless MOB victim in every way. After use, it is drained and weighs a mere 35 lbs. It can even be disassembled for easy transport. A video is at bit.ly/2h3AVEY.

Emerald Marine Products’ OSCAR Water Rescue Training Dummy comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor, and costs $699.