Hand Signals and Emergencies

buckshot · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Charlotte, NC

So, went out riding last night after work and my friend takes a hard fall (well, crash is probably the better word) attempting a backside 360. His fall didn't look particularly bad, so I slowed the boat down and went back to get him at idle speed. As I got close my friend said he needed some help. I thought he was asking for advice on landing the trick and it wasn't until he told us he couldn't get his board off that we realized something was wrong. Turns out the fall was a little worse than it looked. Result: Broken leg.

So, after this little incident, everyone in the boat decided it would be a good idea to have a common method for the rider to signal to the driver that something is wrong (besides floating face down). I would say just waving your arms and shouting could be mistaken, or if the stereo is going, not even heard by people in the boat. I was thinking something like crossing your arms above your head (like an "X") or one hand on the head the other raised.

Anyway, just wanted to get an idea of what other type of "emergency" procedures / precautions other people might have. This is the first real injury I've seen in 10 years of riding, so I don't expect things like this to happen too often. Still, safety first, right?

mckenney · Newbie Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 24 City: smiths falls

whenever someone falls from wakeboarding, skiingor even tubing behind our boat we get them to put there hand up in the air just so we know they are okay and then if they don't put there hand up we rush back quickly. if you want someone who is hurt to put there arms in a cross over there head what happens when they got a broken arm (they can't do it ) so you probably want to have some sort of signal that they are okay instead of hurt

wakeboarderML · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 30 City: Keswick

wow, that sucks.. it must of been pretty painful getting that board off. we've never had that problem so i never really thought of it. we usually turn around slowly and ask the rider "are you alright"... but maybe i should think of a signal

khill12 · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 109 City: Madison

i agree with mckenney, because last year when my sister was slalom skiing, she wiped out and when we turned around and got closer to her we realized she was face down in the water and not moving. anyways we got her flipped over and she came to but turns out she got knocked out for a lil bit. it would be kinda hard for her to give an emergency signal if she was unconscious.....

jpminter · Posted: Aug 03, 2006 11:51 am Post subject:

If someone is hurt, they waive one of their arms back and forth so the boat knows to get back to them quick. Oh and if someone is unconscious then the signal is to put your head face down in the water.

Dave88LX · Criminal Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 64 City: Pasadena

I know this is a serious thread but I can't stop laughing at that last sentence.

flatwaterfooter · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 12

River_Rider · Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 30 City: Rising Sun

As others have said whenever someone crashes the rule is to give the boat a wave to let everyone know your okay.

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 03, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject:

betweenthebridges · Newbie Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 8 City: chattanooga

The best hand signal is used by Scuba Divers. If you are okay, you should place your hand on top of your head, in the shape of an "o". If the rider doesn't make this signal, then I assume they are not good and rush back.

River_Rider · Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 30 City: Rising Sun

I vote we let the scuba divers keep their signals.

khill12 · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 109 City: Madison

dude we are wakeboarders not scuba divers. IMO we should just give a wave or thumbs up to the ppl in the boat if u r ok

Ody3 · Newbie Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 11 City: Vancouver

yah we just use a X above are head if were hurt

Roos · Outlaw Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 192

Well since there is allready a sign that both divers and alot of other people now that actually mean "I'm ok" I would really think it was a great idea to use that.
Either get your hand in the air, open palm, but with your indexfinger and thumb making an "O" means "ok" or as was said, make an "O" by putting your hand on your head so that the arm and head makes an "O".
This way many people would understand and don't get it mixed up with, what a cool crash I just did I'm awesome, which thumbs up could mean.
Or as we use it, thumbs up = more speed, thumbs down = less speed.
Well anyways giving a signal would be great and I've been thinking of starting to give a signal everytime I'm ok, but I have never come around to it.

Mike

WakeBoarder44 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1107

buckshot · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Charlotte, NC

After reading the responses and thinking about it a bit, I'd have to agree the whole "signal if you're ok" idea is probably best. If you do hurt yourself, chances are you'll be focused on that instead of the people in the boat.

I guess it really doesn't matter what signals you decide on, as long as everyone in the boat knows what they are.

jpminter · Posted: Aug 04, 2006 5:14 am Post subject:

Pat your head and rub your stomach in a circular motion at the same time. Works great and actually helps with your hand-eye coordination in the process.