Loading...
Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your boat has overturned or is sinking and you are in open or coastal water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
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.
Scene hazards: Hypothermia, Current drifting away, Propeller injury, Fuel on water
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.
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 — 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.
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.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Good swimmers do not need life jackets on boats
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Capsizing happens suddenly. Cold water, injury, and panic disable even expert swimmers.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most boating drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An overturned boat or cooler is easier for rescuers to spot than a single person's head in water.