Cold-water training improves safety skills at MDL Marinas
MDL Marinas has provided cold water immersion training to nearly 30 members of its operational team to improve water safety awareness.
The training, delivered by health and wellbeing specialists Vitae Vi, incorporated both classroom theory and controlled practical sessions. It covered the physiological impact of cold water shock, lifejacket deployment and strategies for maintaining control in unexpected immersion situations. Participants engaged in exercises in a swimming pool where they experienced lifejacket inflation, practised movement in the water while wearing lifejackets, and carried out the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP), self-rescue and casualty recovery drills.
Another part of the training involved voluntary ice bath immersion to simulate the physical and mental challenges of sudden exposure to cold water. The exercise demonstrated to staff who took the plunge how cold conditions can seriously impair breathing, mobility and decision-making.
“At MDL Marinas, safety is at the heart of everything we do,” says Joe Walton, head of health, safety and the environment at MDL Marinas. “Cold water immersion training helps prepare our teams for real-life situations and supports our efforts to improve safety standards within our industry. We are proud to be one of the few, if not the only, marina operator to offer this type of training as standard for our staff.”
Dan Hughes, co-founder of Vitae Vi, an advanced breathwork instructor and certified Wim Hof Method instructor, stresses the importance of realism during the training: “When people fall into cold water, they’re rarely prepared. They’re usually near the edge, disoriented and in shock – something stops them from getting out safely.
“This training gave the MDL team a chance to understand what that feels like, how to manage it and, most importantly, how to get themselves out of the water safely using simple, easily remembered techniques and protocols that save lives.”
Joe Walton adds, “We’ve found, historically, there are limited practical training options out there that deliver the critical, hands-on skills needed for working safely around pontoons and dockside areas. Partnering with Dan, who also has a wealth of marina expertise from an earlier career, allowed us to design a bespoke programme tailored to the unique risks of marina operations. From cold water immersion to self-recovery, this training equips our teams with invaluable experience in a controlled, supportive setting.”
MDL Marinas says it continues to incorporate proactive health and safety initiatives as part of its operational strategy, which focuses on practical readiness as well as theoretical knowledge.
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