West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Manual, Part2 - NOAA

CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8
Summary
7. Play - Studies have shown that mental attitude
makes a positive difference in a survival
situation. Play is anything that keeps you
occupied and prevents your mind from dwelling
on the difficulties you are facing. Play could be
reading, telling jokes or stories, completing a
task, improving your shelter—anything that
keeps your mind active and focused.
You can learn a lot about sea safety and survival from
vessel personnel, who probably have many years of sea
experience among them. However, the ultimate
responsibility is upon you to survive. It is easy to think
“this will never happen to me” and “the skipper will know
what to do,” but those thoughts may cost you your life.
Take the time to learn as much as you can, and consider
what your actions will be in emergency situations. Visualize
yourself and your actions in emergency scenarios in the
factory, on deck, in your bunk, or anywhere you spend
time. Having thought about an emergency will make your
actions more automatic, and the time saved may save your
life. Your life is worth far more than any data you could
collect in the fishery.
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