Ferry Disaster in Staten Island

R

RH

Joined
Jan 31, 1999
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actually in the fall, water temp lingers at higher summer temps longer that the air er..temp. Nonetheless a person can experience hypothermia even in 80 degree water if exposed long enough. Most likely the water temperature was in the low 70s
 
From what I read -- people crushed, limbs torn off -- the water temperature was the least of their worries.

I've been on that run so many times it makes me sick to think about what happened. We used to ride it for fun sometimes. Now I'm going to have to go down there and do just that again.

Everyone involved has my sincerest and most tearful condolences. :(
 
If you had to jump in the water (as many did in this case) it would certainly be a nice thing to have. Air temp here today is in the 60's, water temp is probably below 50.
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In that case you'd be much better off to swim than float. Keeps up the body temperature. Doesn't anyone else keep in shape?

Trent
 
Good Evening All-

Terrible situation with horrific injuries...one of the worst maritime accidents that city has ever experienced.

A flashlight, knife, and other basics couldn't hurt and could only serve to assist you and others. If this accident occured in darkness ninety minutes later, the folks with flashlights would transform from "geeks" to "well-prepared" in a moment. Needless to say, preparation is key.

Leftwinger politicians will use the crash to call for metal detectors aboard to ship to prevent terrorism. They'll point to the captain who attempted suicide by slashing his wrists as their case-in-point.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Originally posted by Blue Jays
Leftwinger politicians will use the crash to call for metal detectors aboard to ship to prevent terrorism. They'll point to the captain who attempted suicide by slashing his wrists as their case-in-point.
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The news story said the captain slit his wrists in his home, not on the boat so metal dectectors wouldn't of helped.
 
RH,

I see nothing ridiculous about your blow-up tube idea. Each of us should tailor his or her EDC to his or her daily activities. We can't prepare for everything, but your idea is a simple and easy solution to what could be a very big (and not too unlikely) problem. Whether or not it would have helped here, who knows? But that really is irrelevant. If the ferry had been much farther out or it had happened later in the year when it was much colder I can see your blow-up tube idea being VERY helpful.

'Survival Gear' doesn't mean Firesteel and Bowie knife, it means items which in an emergency you are likely to encounter will help you live through it. Your blow-up tube would probably be silly in a desert, but flint and tinder would likewise be kinda' silly in NYC.

-John
 
Awful incident.

In that case you'd be much better off to swim than float.
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(when it´s cold)

Sorry but that´s not correct. You need to keep whatever heat you have left in your body. When you get cold the body will try to stop the heat loss by cutting off (not totally, of course) the blood to your arms and legs. The priority for warm blood is the vital organs. If you decide to swim there will be an increased blood circulation in to your limbs. It means that you spread out the heat over a bigger area. As an result your body temperature will drop faster than if you didn´t swim. It might feel better/warmer to swim but you will die faster.

Best thing to do if you´re in cold water is to hold your limbs close to the body and relax. A floating device becomes very handy and any additional clothing that can keep the water circulation to a minimum and warm(er) water close to your body is also good.

/Colinz
 
You can raise your body temperature by burning calories. In 0 degree weather if you sit you can die pretty quick. You keep moving you survive. Same thing goes in the water. I have swam in 50 degree water before and you can warm up by moving fast. If you sit still zap goes your body heat.
 
It's not as if these people were ptiched into the open sea. They were just off-shore, in a chaotic situation where swimming could bring them to safety in a minute, or bring them to rescuers' attention.
 
Condolences to those who are lost, and best wishes to those who are healing.
 
Good Evening All-

Originally posted by Screehopper replying to Blue Jays
The news story said the captain slit his wrists in his home, not on the boat so metal dectectors wouldn't of helped.
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The crew member who fled the scene remains in critical condition with his self-inflicted knife and BB gun wounds. I probably should have put </sarcasm> tags around my post regarding politicians using this tragedy to snatch more freedoms from law-abiding citizens.

The fact-of-the-matter is that assorted ferry operators around the country HAVE explored the use of metal detectors for commuter ferry trips. While I'm very professional in dress and comportment, "they" would choke if my computer bag was examined. Between the knives, water, food, SureFire flashlight, paracord, one-way resuscitation valves, latex gloves, and other stuff...the media would dream-up some unflattering label for me or other similarly well-prepared person.

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
I live a mile away...What a mess. I herd the boom from my house. My friend was on the upper level of the ferry and called me from the boat. Road my bike down there and helped out till all the proper medical and emergency people got there. My friend was OK, everyone who was upstairs was fine. Anyone below and to the right of the boat were the ones u weren't sure about.

You shouldn't witness what I witnessed. Very awful stuff.


Vin
SI NY
 
Charles, your dripping scarcasm indicates perhaps you didn't see the pictures of the damage. The concrete dock literally swept through the entire lower deck, taking bolted-down chairs, support pillars, staircases, and people's lower extremities with it.

Are you suggesting that the passengers would be better off trying to go for a lifejacket as opposed to bailing into the water? Lifejackets are grat when you can see the danger in plentry of time, reach it, get it, put it on, etc. If the floor is giving out from under me, I'm outta there with or without a lifejacket. Of course I would hope someone would then toss me one in the water, but I'm not lining up on deck waiting for one.
 
Originally posted by RH
Charles, your dripping scarcasm indicates perhaps you didn't see the pictures of the damage. ...snip...
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Yeah, I saw it - way too much of it. I got lucky and wasn't called out (I belong to a group that sometimes works with NYC Red Cross). If you've got time to grab you briefcase, get out your blowup and jump, you have time to grab the preservers (they are right above your head) and jump.

That said, even with the water being as cold as it is this time of year (about 65 in the harbor), if your jumping in the water, by definition, your right next to the pier

I REALLY can't understand jumping into the water either. If you are on the side next to the pier, all jumping in does is put you between the pier and the boat - NOT a good place to be That is assuming you CAN jump - the spray rails are fairly high, and would have to be climbed - better to RUN across the ship. If your not on the side of the ship that is hitting the pier, there is no reason to jump
 
First thing that I do when I get on a boat (any boat) is to find the life preservers.
They have to be onboard, by law.
 
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