SAFETY 1ST

[TC]

Reading Hirams\' post about adding a length of nylon rope to his usual kit in his tackle box, it got me wondering: what safety / emergency gear do YOU take out on a fishing trip?

As we are all aware, shore fishing can be a hazardous pass-time, especially when fishing the more exposed & remote rock edges, so it seems sensible to carry some basic essentials for safety.

As well as the safety / warm clothing (float suit) etc what do you take with you?

During the Winter months, even during the day I ALWAYS take my headtorch and spare bulbs & fuses - daylight hours being so short.

Whistle

1st aid kit

spare shirt or jumper

food, hot drink & bar of chocolate

foil \"space blanket\"

Hopefully, I will NEVER need to use any of them in an emergency situation, but as has been said before.....I\'d rather have them with me and not need them than vice-versa.

It\'s also a good idea to let somebody know where you\'re going and roughly when you expect to be back. If you change your plans you MUST let them know. This would avoid any uneccessary worry and possible call out of the emergency services.





[Edited on 12/2/2004 by TC]

[alan]

Apart from the obvious things like food and drink.....I alway take my Mobile phone,make sure its charged as well,if you don\'t have one borrow a phone.First aid kit as metioned in Hirams post.

[Patrick_Pending]

A mobile phone is top of my list. I keep it in a waterproof bag in my top pocket.

It makes sense to wear something bright preferably Hi-Vis reflective clothing - khaki green doesn\'t exactly stand-out against the north sea.

I also carry a small waterproof pocket torch.

[MikeR]

First Aid Kit
Whistle
Compass (you never know where you are when the fog comes in)
Spare LED Headlamp
Mobile Phone
Couple of bars of chocolate
Small bottle of water

In the back of the car I have a full size first aid kit, 2Kg Fire extinguisher (used twice already) a blanket and a warning triangle.

It might never happen, but if it does be ready for it!

[Chippy]

Always take my phone, my missus calling me usually coincides with a knock on the rods.
I take a change of clothing to leave in the car, I have the usually food, whistle, spare battery for my head light, first aid kit, pair of wire cutters to cut a hook if I get one stuck in my hand. In summer if I\'m spinning off rocks, I always wear a life jacket.

[Stores]

Tony, I have rewritten this post a number of times in the hope of not appearing pompous, conceited or any of them other long words but in response to the question posed at the top of the thread.. I carry nothing. I do not possess a mobile phone, let alone know how to use one, no first aid kit, rope, rarely food or a flask and sometimes, if fishing Tynemouth beach say, no torch either as you can see by the street lights on the front. The perceived danger I am in only arises through ignorance of where I am fishing although I accept that I may fall over, have a heart attack or get struck by a rogue wave but in 35 years of fishing that has yet to happen so the question then is do I carry gear to rescue others - and the answer is probably - no. It\'s funny writing this because if we were talking about a trip to Ben Nevis or even Cheviot the answer would include all the above gear plus ETA forms in the windscreen, route maps etc but the sea does not change on our shore like the weather in the mountains and with local knowledge safety is (almost) guaranteed. The worrying thing for me is that, in a telephone conversation with Rod this week, I said that, as a qualified life saver I would have HAD to go in after the poor girl so sadly lost and it\'s there that my argument sort of falls apart. Don\'t know if this redresses the balance or over states the case for thinking of no.1

[TC]

Lol, David...

I\'ve always been a belt & braces sort of bloke...lol.

Perhaps I am a bit over cautious, still being relatively new to this fishin\' lark. However, after spending so long in the mountains during many Winter seasons, I guess old habbits die hard.

I\'ve got admit to having taken more \"chances\" and pushing my luck on a mountain than I\'ve ever done whilst out fishing - I suppose it all depends on where your experience lies.

I\'ve still got a long way to go before I feel as \"at home\" fishing a rock mark as I do / did looking for finger holds 250\' up a crag in the Lakes........but I\'m gettin\' there

[mark]

Essential bit of kit.... Never leave home without it...












my brain!

As a life long climber, the words choose your next move very carefully spring to mind. If in doubt, leave it out.

More than once I\'ve ventured out onto the rocks, got there and decided it ain\'t worth it

mobile phones are great if you are fishing where there is coverage, which is hardly anywhere that I ever fish, and a tackle bag full off emergency extras aren\'t a lot of use when your bobbing around in the briny looking back to your tackle bag as you slowly drift out to sea. Even floatation suits won\'t
do much for you if you crack your nut and end up face down in the drink, and won\'t keep you that warm or even afloat if they aren\'t fitted properly, or the jacket is unzipped. It always make me smile watching people trudge along the rocks in a full floatation suit to get to their chosen spot, only to unzip or take the jacket off half way there beacause they are too hot.

If I had to take anything, a decent self inflating lifejacket, that will hold me head above the water

Other than that good bootss and common sense are the only things I insist on carrying. controversial, maybe, but there you go

oh yeah, triple wrapped emergency supply of baccy and papers - most important

[peter.m]

Just got a spare headtorch a couple of weeks ago from Wilkinsons for #3.99. Takes 2 AA batteries and rolls up in a sealed plastic bag at the bottom of my box for emergencies. It won\'t be the best lamp but will get you off a mark.

Usually have a mobile phone with me but since it dropped out me shirt pocket tonight down the bog looks like I\'ll be needing a new one as somehow it doesn\'t seem to like water!!

[willywetegg]

I think that everything that has been mentioned is important, but when you do not live on the coast itself and your going out fishing for a long time I think there is only so much that you can carry. When you have a couple of flasks, some sandwiches and a few spares in your box your about full. One thing I always take is a spare headlight. It has been used quite a few times. But I think the most important thing has only been mentioned once and that is common sense. You take a large one of those and your in with a chance. It has got to be a pretty flat sea for me to fish rock marks by myself after dark. I have a family at home that I love and want to spend a bit longer with them yet.The whole moral to this story from every post is don\"t take chances. No fish no matter how big is worth the smallest risk.

[BILLYB]

If it is not a safe mark to fish,then move to a mark that is.Best to be safe than have a 2lb cod. if a cockler used this bit of info.Need i say more

[Red5]

The Mobile is an essential but like Mark says coverage isn\'t always great.Craster and surrounding areas is terrible for a signal. I went for the red waterproof smock coz if I did fall, I\'d be more visible than in the blue or green versions. Spare headtorch is vital. A couple of times My main torch has run out and my spare has always been at hand to guide me to safety! Common sense is the best principle but then how many of us have been caught out by a rogue wave? We may respect the sea but it has no respect for us.