Emergency and Rescue

Kayak Capsize

For Guide Kayak (single kayak)

This would only happen with broken outriggers.
Solution: always bring extra outrigger bar out. 1 bar per set of outriggers.
If you can still capsize,
- Flip the kayak over as fast as you can to prevent too much water flooding into the hull.
- Attach the spare outrigger onto the kayak before jumping back onto the kayak.
Pump out excess water from the kayak, first from the middle hatch then from the front hatch.

For Guest Kayak (tandem kayak)

Keep your guests calm.
Flip the kayak over as soon as possible, using the safety rope for more leverage when flipping the kayak over (refer to image).
If there’s too much water in the kayak, you might have to get on the kayak and pump the water out first (first the middle hatch then the front hatch).
Help your guests to get back onto the kayak.
Pump out water from the hull if you have not already done so.

Barely hooked

If its barely hooked, you can just remove the hook and patch up the wound with the orange bandages.

Hooked deep

If the barb has entered any part of the body, especially the eye, DO NOT attempt to take the hook out.
Isolate the hook by cutting the line.
Guide 1 will bring the person back to shore immediately and call a cab to take the guest to A&E.

What is a minor cut?

For all minor cuts and wounds: first apply triple antiseptic, then protect and patch up the wound with orange bandages.

What is NOT a minor cut?

The wound is:
- located on the face
- penetrating deep into the skin
- involving other tissues so that you lose sensation, motion, or bleed a lot
- made by a very dirty object
Guide 1 will bring the person back to shore immediately and call a cab to take the guest to A&E.

What is Sea Sickness?

You get motion sickness when one part of your balance-sensing system (your inner ear, eyes, and sensory nerves) senses that your body is moving, but the other parts don't. For example, if you are in the cabin of a moving ship, your inner ear may sense the motion of waves, but your eyes don't see any movement. This conflict between the senses causes motion sickness.

Cure for Seasickness

Best way is to prevent sea sickness. Make sure that any guest that has ever experienced motion sickness takes the seasickness pills before heading out.
Offer the guest some motion sickness pills out on the water, it reduces the nausea.
Encourage them to look at a fixed point on the horizon and stay hydrated. Sometimes, just laying down on the kayak helps too. It might even help to jump into the sea to float around a little.
Empty stomachs can cause motion sickness. If the guests are on an empty stomach, offer them a Kit Kat bar from the orange cooler bag.

If guest wants to go back

Assess if the guest should return to shore. Will the guest hamper the experience for everyone else, or can they tough it out?
Once confirmed, ask the second guide to take care of your group while you escort the guest back to shore. Then, return to your group and continue the tour.
If there is no second guide, get the whole group to follow you back to shore but stay 100m out on the water. Alternatively, if the current is slow, drop an anchor on the spot and get the guests to go back to the spot to fish frequently.

When to immediately evacuate?

When there is a significant and immediate threat to life, such as:
- Heart attack
- Choking
- Drowning
- Major injuries
Guide 1 will immediately tow the guest and kayak back to shore using the safety rope.
Guide 2 will call emergency services (995), and give them the nearest carpark and the exact location on the beach so that they will be ready to act on the beach.
If towing back to shore is not possible (too far away at island hopper or mangrove route), Guide 1 will stay with the victim and Guide 2 will call the Marine Port Authority (MPA)24-hour hotline at 62255777 (save this in your phone).
Guide 2 would call HQ (Aaron or Max) to update them.

Basic First Aid