Wild about Swimming now offers the RLSS National water safety management programme qualification - if you want one run in your area please contact me so we can arrange it
Thursday 19 March 2015
Tuesday 10 March 2015
RESTUBE..REVIEW
RESTUBE....IDEAL FOR RESCUE!!
As the passion for open water grows so does the safety concerns for those participating. Products are being produced aim at swimmer visibility, and these from the feedback given have both their good and bad points i suppose such as most things in life do.
But what of those of us who dont want to announce to the world that we are in the water, who swim solo, in pairs or small groups, who take to waters others would consider too cold or too bouncy. Those of us who have swam for years in the great outdoors and for whom the announcement of us being in the water is too much. What of those of us who ask friends and family to boat or kayak for us while we attempt vast distances, whilst we rely on them for our safety, what of theirs.
Having researched safety devises on the market that would best suit my needs i found RESTUBE (http://restube.eu/wp/?lang=en). A nifty little package that suits me down to the ground, a velcro'ed pouch housing all i would need for self rescue, rescue and visibility should i require it. Activated by the pull of a cord, a gas propelled flotation rescue tube is expelled. It also has the advantage that it can be activated by others in or on the water if i can not manage myself.
The first time it was used was purely as a test, would it deploy when needed, how fast and could you effectively either self rescue or be rescued using it?
The venue chosen, Ellerton Lake near Richmond North Yorkshire where i tend to coach from, the weather very windy and the water nicely choppy. A willing model placed the belt around her waste and adjusted it accordingly to ensure a perfect but not overly tight fit. In she jumped and after swimming around for a bit managed to find herself some lovely deep choppy water.
The beauty of swimming in deep choppy water on a day like today is that the tube really does get put to the test, can she self rescue, can we see her in the water, and can she be rescued if necessary. Putting on the device is simple a strong adjustable belt with the pack attached which can be mounted either vertically or horizontally for maximum comfort to the user.
On my signal she deployed the device, no loud noises, i was worried about the inflatable tube coming up at such a speed that it may injure the swimmer whilst in the water. I need not have worried, the tube inflated with swift speed but equally without enough force to cause harm. Bright yellow in colour and solid enough that it could support her body weight while she gained her breath.
Breath gained our willing model was able then use the RESTUBE, holding it in a variety of ways to ensure that she could safely get back to the bank of the lake. Impressed, we certainly were, even more so when it came to packing it up, easy to follow instructions printed on the tube showed the correct method of returning the tube to the pouch, affixing another gas cannister was simple (thankfully!).
Since proving it can actually do what it says on the tin, i have taken it everywhere with me - yes you can take them on planes (4 canisters can be taken - but keep yourself up to date by checking the IATA regulations in case they change )
I am happy to show it to my swimmers, my coaches, to potential coaches, to qualification awarding bodies, school and pretty much anyone involved in an aquatic environment, it is compact, easy to use design is an instant hit across the board.
I love that the tubes don't need to be inflated until such time as required, for those that like the security of swimming in the open water but don't always want to be visible to any others other than their spotter these are ideal. They can be used by those on boats, kayakers, group leaders, divers, paddle boards, rescue technicians, schools, boaters, well in fact their uses are endless if you are in, on or around water.
As an open water swimmer for me i love swimming ANYWHERE outside and all year round, knowing that i can swim anonymously if i desire - i can, if i wish to be seen, say for example on bodies of water where other users such at boats my frequent - i can, but most importantly, it does allow self and assisted rescue should i need it. Highly recommended and a product that i for one always have in my swim bag....as you have no doubt heard me say so many times...Happy Swimming, - with RESTUBE that is guaranteed!
The first time it was used was purely as a test, would it deploy when needed, how fast and could you effectively either self rescue or be rescued using it?
The venue chosen, Ellerton Lake near Richmond North Yorkshire where i tend to coach from, the weather very windy and the water nicely choppy. A willing model placed the belt around her waste and adjusted it accordingly to ensure a perfect but not overly tight fit. In she jumped and after swimming around for a bit managed to find herself some lovely deep choppy water.
On my signal she deployed the device, no loud noises, i was worried about the inflatable tube coming up at such a speed that it may injure the swimmer whilst in the water. I need not have worried, the tube inflated with swift speed but equally without enough force to cause harm. Bright yellow in colour and solid enough that it could support her body weight while she gained her breath.
Breath gained our willing model was able then use the RESTUBE, holding it in a variety of ways to ensure that she could safely get back to the bank of the lake. Impressed, we certainly were, even more so when it came to packing it up, easy to follow instructions printed on the tube showed the correct method of returning the tube to the pouch, affixing another gas cannister was simple (thankfully!).
Since proving it can actually do what it says on the tin, i have taken it everywhere with me - yes you can take them on planes (4 canisters can be taken - but keep yourself up to date by checking the IATA regulations in case they change )
I am happy to show it to my swimmers, my coaches, to potential coaches, to qualification awarding bodies, school and pretty much anyone involved in an aquatic environment, it is compact, easy to use design is an instant hit across the board.
I love that the tubes don't need to be inflated until such time as required, for those that like the security of swimming in the open water but don't always want to be visible to any others other than their spotter these are ideal. They can be used by those on boats, kayakers, group leaders, divers, paddle boards, rescue technicians, schools, boaters, well in fact their uses are endless if you are in, on or around water.
As an open water swimmer for me i love swimming ANYWHERE outside and all year round, knowing that i can swim anonymously if i desire - i can, if i wish to be seen, say for example on bodies of water where other users such at boats my frequent - i can, but most importantly, it does allow self and assisted rescue should i need it. Highly recommended and a product that i for one always have in my swim bag....as you have no doubt heard me say so many times...Happy Swimming, - with RESTUBE that is guaranteed!
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