Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with boat capsized, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your boat has overturned or is sinking and you are in open or coastal water.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Count everyone. Stay with boat. Float. Call for help.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Boat is filling with water or has fully capsized.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone is missing from the group count.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People are in water without life jackets.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An overturned boat or cooler is easier for rescuers to spot than a single person's head in water.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout: "Everyone count! Who is missing?"
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Grab any floating object — life ring, cooler, oar, seat cushion.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Climb onto the overturned hull if stable, or link arms around it.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If no life jackets: Tie or hold onto the boat — do not let it drift away.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not swim long distances to shore unless it is very close and calm. Stay with the largest floating object.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 with GPS coordinates if possible. Say number of people in water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Coastal Guard emergency numbers vary by region — use whatever maritime emergency number you know.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All capsizing survivors need medical evaluation — hypothermia, injury, and inhalation injuries are common.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT swim away from the boat toward distant shore unless land is very close.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT dive under a capsized boat to search unless trained — entrapment risk.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT drink alcohol or seawater.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Good swimmers do not need life jackets on boats
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Capsizing happens suddenly. Cold water, injury, and panic disable even expert swimmers.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Child drowning
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child was found in water, is struggling in water, or was just pulled out and is not responding normally.
Bucket drowning
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A young child has fallen head-first into a bucket, tub, or container of water and may be submerged.
Bathtub emergency
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child is submerged, unconscious, or having a seizure in the bathtub.
Pool emergency
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone is in trouble at a swimming pool — submerged, not moving, or injured at the pool edge.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Use phone in waterproof bag, VHF radio channel 16, or signal mirror/whistle.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Conserve body heat — huddle together if multiple people.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most boating drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.