Calling For Help
Even if you've never made the call, it's a sure thing that you know to dial 9-1-1 if you need the police or an ambulance. But what if you're on the water? Hopefully, you'll never need to call anybody, but just in case something untoward happens while you're out on your boat - even running out of gas - it's a good idea to know how to put out that call for the calvary.
January 1, 2006
Even if you've never made the call, it's a sure thing that you know to dial 9-1-1 if you need
the police or an ambulance. But what if you're on the water? Hopefully, you'll never need to call
anybody, but just in case something untoward happens while you're out on your boat - even running
out of gas - it's a good idea to know how to put out that call for the calvary.
Step 1: Use The Right Tools
The best way to get help is to put out a distress call using a VHF radio, and if you're even thinking about boating where you can't see land, you absolutely must have a VHF radio on board. But don't put all your eggs in the VHF basket. A cell phone may actually be more useful on a small inland waterway. For added security, it's a good idea to carry a hand-operated air horn. If you're going offshore, augment the emergency preparedness kit with a flare gun and fresh flares. An Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) unit is a good investment for all boaters, as it broadcasts both a distress signal and your GPS position at regular intervals.
Step 2: Make The Call
Have everyone on board don PFDs and sit as low as possible, then go directly to the VHF and issue a 'Mayday' broadcast over Channel 16. If you have a cell phone on board, dial 9-1-1. The emergency center, if you reach it, will be able to contact the Coast Guard or dispatch local rescue personnel. If there are other boats visible, issue a visual distress signal. Stand tall and wave your arms up and down. Fire a flare (red star shell or red parachute) or hold up a handheld flare. Engage your EPIRB unit. If you have code flags on board, raise the 'November Charlie' (a blue/white checkerboard pattern flag above a flag with five horizontal bands ' blue, white, red, white, blue).
Step 3: State Your Position
When you contact the Coast Guard or other emergency responder, you'll need to give your position and condition as precisely and concisely as possible ' so have your GPS where you can see it. Note any landmarks that are visible, then tell the dispatcher:
1 Your position
2 The problem
3 Number, age and sex of each person on board
4 Your boat's name, registration, and description (Bad Luck, registered TX000, 24-foot runabout)
5 Any safety equipment you have on board
Speak slowly, calmly and clearly. This will help everyone on board to stay calm, and it will allow the dispatcher to obtain and pass on your information as quickly and accurately as possible.
Step 4: Keep In Touch
Once you've made contact, maintain contact until help has arrived and the situation is rectified. This doesn't mean constant contact, but contact at regular intervals. If you've reached the Coast Guard by VHF, for example, call them every 10 minutes or so to update them on your situation. The same goes for a cell phone call to 9-1-1. If your initial efforts to reach help didn't succeed, repeat your signals at regular intervals. (The Coast Guard monitors VHF Channel 16 at all times, so it's highly unlikely you won't have success with that avenue.) If your situation changes (a medical emergency develops, a storm approaches, etc.), re-establish contact immediately to provide an update. When help arrives, it's OK to call back and report that, too.
Step 1: Use The Right Tools
The best way to get help is to put out a distress call using a VHF radio, and if you're even thinking about boating where you can't see land, you absolutely must have a VHF radio on board. But don't put all your eggs in the VHF basket. A cell phone may actually be more useful on a small inland waterway. For added security, it's a good idea to carry a hand-operated air horn. If you're going offshore, augment the emergency preparedness kit with a flare gun and fresh flares. An Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) unit is a good investment for all boaters, as it broadcasts both a distress signal and your GPS position at regular intervals.
Step 2: Make The Call
Have everyone on board don PFDs and sit as low as possible, then go directly to the VHF and issue a 'Mayday' broadcast over Channel 16. If you have a cell phone on board, dial 9-1-1. The emergency center, if you reach it, will be able to contact the Coast Guard or dispatch local rescue personnel. If there are other boats visible, issue a visual distress signal. Stand tall and wave your arms up and down. Fire a flare (red star shell or red parachute) or hold up a handheld flare. Engage your EPIRB unit. If you have code flags on board, raise the 'November Charlie' (a blue/white checkerboard pattern flag above a flag with five horizontal bands ' blue, white, red, white, blue).
Step 3: State Your Position
When you contact the Coast Guard or other emergency responder, you'll need to give your position and condition as precisely and concisely as possible ' so have your GPS where you can see it. Note any landmarks that are visible, then tell the dispatcher:
1 Your position
2 The problem
3 Number, age and sex of each person on board
4 Your boat's name, registration, and description (Bad Luck, registered TX000, 24-foot runabout)
5 Any safety equipment you have on board
Speak slowly, calmly and clearly. This will help everyone on board to stay calm, and it will allow the dispatcher to obtain and pass on your information as quickly and accurately as possible.
Step 4: Keep In Touch
Once you've made contact, maintain contact until help has arrived and the situation is rectified. This doesn't mean constant contact, but contact at regular intervals. If you've reached the Coast Guard by VHF, for example, call them every 10 minutes or so to update them on your situation. The same goes for a cell phone call to 9-1-1. If your initial efforts to reach help didn't succeed, repeat your signals at regular intervals. (The Coast Guard monitors VHF Channel 16 at all times, so it's highly unlikely you won't have success with that avenue.) If your situation changes (a medical emergency develops, a storm approaches, etc.), re-establish contact immediately to provide an update. When help arrives, it's OK to call back and report that, too.
related articles:
Cool Runnings: Instead of sitting at home during cold weather and wishing that you were out boating, take the tarp off and go for it.Calling For Help: Even if you've never made the call, it's a sure thing that you know to dial 9-1-1 if you need the police or an ambulance. But what if you're on the water? Hopefully, you'll never need to call anybody, but just in case something untoward happens while you're out on your boat - even running out of gas - it's a good idea to know how to put out that call for the calvary.
