| After capsule training last weekend, I decided to pull out my original experience in 2007 to share - WOW! My training experiences since then have thankfully been completely uneventful. And to this day, I run through my 'escape' plan every time I strap into that driver's seat. Join me for a stroll - well, how about a dunk! - down memory lane... |
| :: Dog Bytes -from the Poodle |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| The Spin |
| The Training Team |
| Anxiously Waiting for the Great Escape! |
| Crawling towards the nose!! |
| Ready to Train |
March 2007 -
Capsule Training. Let me see...how did I put it? Oh, yeah - "This class is essential to help me feel comfortable
masked up and strapped down inside the capsule, as well as to teach me how to stay calm and exit the capsule
in an emergency situation." Step-by-step instructions, controlled environment, hooked to oxygen...no problem.
Hmmm, for all you who know me, you have to know that NOTHING could ever be that easy when the Poodle is
involved!
When we arrived - Big Dog, Biscuit, and myself - there were already several drivers there, ready to be
recertified. The training team worked with each one individually, and each driver resurfaced successfully as we
watched and listened carefully, absorbing as much information as we could before it was our turn. We needed
to test my brand new air mask, so I hung upside down underwater by my legs on the side of the pool,
oxygenated, and after a few adjustments to the fitting, I was given the okay to train.
Was I scared? No, not at all. Was I nervous? Absolutely. The anticipation was shooting adrenaline
right through me! The training team worked together, answering all my questions clearly and concisely, and
believe me, there were a lot of them! "How does this seatbelt release?" "Where is the hatch release?" "Would
you go through the steps one more time?" Into the capsule I go, reminded again of how short I really am - the
steering wheel is almost a full arm's length out in front of me, and I can't reach the 'pedals'. The capsule is full
of water up to my mouth, and I have to remind myself that I can breath through the mask and don't need to keep
my face out of the water. They pull me out to the middle of pool, I give the thumb's up, and around I go, one full
turn. At 180 degrees, my mask fills up with water, I take a big drink, and I give the thumb's down for a no-go.
Lesson No. 1: Close the ambient valve all the way!
After coughing up almost all the water I swallowed - "Really, I'm okay, I just have a bad cold!" - it's back into the
capsule. Once around, thumb's up, then one and a half times around. I'm disoriented, hanging upside down,
under water. What a strange feeling, hearing nothing but the sound of my breathing. My mask is spraying a bit
of water at my nose, but I clear it out, take some deep breaths, pull the steering wheel off, and reach for the
hatch release...down there by my feet...where I can't reach. I know the diver told me not to release the seatbelt
until I know for certain I can come out, but I can't reach the release! So I unstrap, and immediately start floating
around, and STILL can't reach the hatch release. The team flips me back over, chastising me for not following
directions and releasing my seatbelt too soon.
Lesson No. 2: Uh, hello, the hatch is in the floor, the LID is the top of the capsule. Identify where the lid release
is.
Back out to the middle of the pool, around and around and upside down, under water once again. Starting to
feel a little like a sea monkey, I release the steering wheel, pull the lid release, and push up on the lid. And
push. And PUSH. Nothing is happening. I can't get enough leverage to push it open, and I'm starting to panic.
For a split second, I consider signalling the diver to bring me up, but I think, "This is what this is all about,
Capsule Training. Let me see...how did I put it? Oh, yeah - "This class is essential to help me feel comfortable
masked up and strapped down inside the capsule, as well as to teach me how to stay calm and exit the capsule
in an emergency situation." Step-by-step instructions, controlled environment, hooked to oxygen...no problem.
Hmmm, for all you who know me, you have to know that NOTHING could ever be that easy when the Poodle is
involved!
When we arrived - Big Dog, Biscuit, and myself - there were already several drivers there, ready to be
recertified. The training team worked with each one individually, and each driver resurfaced successfully as we
watched and listened carefully, absorbing as much information as we could before it was our turn. We needed
to test my brand new air mask, so I hung upside down underwater by my legs on the side of the pool,
oxygenated, and after a few adjustments to the fitting, I was given the okay to train.
Was I scared? No, not at all. Was I nervous? Absolutely. The anticipation was shooting adrenaline
right through me! The training team worked together, answering all my questions clearly and concisely, and
believe me, there were a lot of them! "How does this seatbelt release?" "Where is the hatch release?" "Would
you go through the steps one more time?" Into the capsule I go, reminded again of how short I really am - the
steering wheel is almost a full arm's length out in front of me, and I can't reach the 'pedals'. The capsule is full
of water up to my mouth, and I have to remind myself that I can breath through the mask and don't need to keep
my face out of the water. They pull me out to the middle of pool, I give the thumb's up, and around I go, one full
turn. At 180 degrees, my mask fills up with water, I take a big drink, and I give the thumb's down for a no-go.
Lesson No. 1: Close the ambient valve all the way!
After coughing up almost all the water I swallowed - "Really, I'm okay, I just have a bad cold!" - it's back into the
capsule. Once around, thumb's up, then one and a half times around. I'm disoriented, hanging upside down,
under water. What a strange feeling, hearing nothing but the sound of my breathing. My mask is spraying a bit
of water at my nose, but I clear it out, take some deep breaths, pull the steering wheel off, and reach for the
hatch release...down there by my feet...where I can't reach. I know the diver told me not to release the seatbelt
until I know for certain I can come out, but I can't reach the release! So I unstrap, and immediately start floating
around, and STILL can't reach the hatch release. The team flips me back over, chastising me for not following
directions and releasing my seatbelt too soon.
Lesson No. 2: Uh, hello, the hatch is in the floor, the LID is the top of the capsule. Identify where the lid release
is.
Back out to the middle of the pool, around and around and upside down, under water once again. Starting to
feel a little like a sea monkey, I release the steering wheel, pull the lid release, and push up on the lid. And
push. And PUSH. Nothing is happening. I can't get enough leverage to push it open, and I'm starting to panic.
For a split second, I consider signalling the diver to bring me up, but I think, "This is what this is all about,
remaining calm when things don't go as planned. Calm down, breath, Breath, BREATH, and PUSH. So I pause, clear my mask, "You're
strong, girl! PUSH!!" Nothing! Arggg!! I am NOT going to give up, but the team makes the call, and they flip me back over. I try to hide my
frustration, and am told to do whatever it takes, use my legs if I have to, and get that lid open!
Lesson No. 3: Be creative, and yes, I CAN remain calm!
Here we go again. At this point, they just flip me upside down. Clear the mask, deep breaths, release the steering wheel, pull the release,
push the lid. Nothing. Oh, man, those months of working out and stretching are gonna be tested, and I put my foot over my head and push,
HARD, against the lid. IT OPENS! Success!
Okay. Breath. Release the belt, grab the top of the capsule and pull myself forward. Crawl, crawl, crawl toward the nose of the boat.
There is NO WAY I'm making a mistake now! Breaking the surface, I'm WOOHOO'ing all over the place, and although no one can hear me
through the mask, I know my Big Dog and Biscuit know exactly what's going on in this Poodle's head. The Training Team is just as excited as I
am, and offer me another opportunity to escape. I jump all over that, and this time everything goes smoothly with no hesitation, and I climb out
of the pool feeling confident and oh, just a little ecstatic!
Biscuit's training is uneventful, and he successfully pilots himself out of the capsule like a pro, making it look easy!
To be honest, I'm glad that the training went the way it did. What better place for things to go wrong, for me to make serious escape errors,
and identify faulty equipment, than in that controlled environment. The Capsule Training Team was knowledgeable, professional, informative,
and, thank goodness, persistent. Their demeanor helped keep me calm, and they inspired confidence. I'm grateful to them for their expertise
and send out a big thank you from all of Team Toothpick.
Oh, yeah. I AM a race boat driver.
strong, girl! PUSH!!" Nothing! Arggg!! I am NOT going to give up, but the team makes the call, and they flip me back over. I try to hide my
frustration, and am told to do whatever it takes, use my legs if I have to, and get that lid open!
Lesson No. 3: Be creative, and yes, I CAN remain calm!
Here we go again. At this point, they just flip me upside down. Clear the mask, deep breaths, release the steering wheel, pull the release,
push the lid. Nothing. Oh, man, those months of working out and stretching are gonna be tested, and I put my foot over my head and push,
HARD, against the lid. IT OPENS! Success!
Okay. Breath. Release the belt, grab the top of the capsule and pull myself forward. Crawl, crawl, crawl toward the nose of the boat.
There is NO WAY I'm making a mistake now! Breaking the surface, I'm WOOHOO'ing all over the place, and although no one can hear me
through the mask, I know my Big Dog and Biscuit know exactly what's going on in this Poodle's head. The Training Team is just as excited as I
am, and offer me another opportunity to escape. I jump all over that, and this time everything goes smoothly with no hesitation, and I climb out
of the pool feeling confident and oh, just a little ecstatic!
Biscuit's training is uneventful, and he successfully pilots himself out of the capsule like a pro, making it look easy!
To be honest, I'm glad that the training went the way it did. What better place for things to go wrong, for me to make serious escape errors,
and identify faulty equipment, than in that controlled environment. The Capsule Training Team was knowledgeable, professional, informative,
and, thank goodness, persistent. Their demeanor helped keep me calm, and they inspired confidence. I'm grateful to them for their expertise
and send out a big thank you from all of Team Toothpick.
Oh, yeah. I AM a race boat driver.