Sprowston Students on Offshore Survival Course

Four Sprowston Community High School students (Rachael B., Jessica S., Lauren C. and Jack M.) did exceptionally well to win a day at the PETANS offshore survival skills centre. The event was sponsored by OPITO and run by Camouflaged learning and hosted across Norfolk over several rounds with the final teams brief to construct an oil rig emergency escape device. The winning teams then got to try out their skills at survival for real in simulated helicopter ditching and fire-fighting drills.

A HUET drill is Helicopter Underwater Evacuation Training and involves being strapped into a simulator and plunged underwater. The idea is to give offshore workers the skills to survive a crash in the North Sea. Candidates must hold their breath, resist the temptation to panic, unbuckle their harness and then pull themselves out through the window and swim to the surface. If this is not hard enough, as helicopters are top heavy, the drill is done upside down underwater as a helicopter will roll on impact in rough seas. Rachael, Jessica, Lauren and Jack were understandably nervous but all completed the drill in outstanding fashion. Brilliant!

If you can overcome your fears, then the world really is your oyster!