Accidents can happen on the water, and being prepared to act in an emergency is essential for anyone who spends time on a boat. When a passenger falls overboard, it is important to remain calm and take the proper steps to ensure the safety of the passenger and all on board. This article will discuss what to do if a passenger falls overboard, providing steps to identify and rescue the passenger.
Identifying an Overboard Passenger
The first step in responding to an overboard passenger is to identify the individual. As soon as the passenger falls overboard, other passengers and crew should be alerted to the situation and the overboard passenger should be identified. If possible, the passenger should be identified by name, and the location of the fall should be noted.
It is also important to assess the situation quickly and accurately. It is essential to determine the conditions of the water and the weather, as well as the availability of other vessels in the area. All of this information will be important when formulating a plan to rescue the passenger.
Taking Action to Rescue the Passenger
Once the passenger has been identified and the situation assessed, it is time to take action to rescue the passenger. The boat should be maneuvered so that it is as close to the passenger as possible. This may mean turning the boat around and retracing the route, or it may mean moving the boat in a circle in order to keep the passenger in sight.
If the boat is equipped with a life ring or other flotation device, it should be thrown to the passenger immediately. This will provide the passenger with a means of staying afloat until they can be rescued.
If there are other vessels in the area, a distress call should be made. It is important to provide as much information as possible in order to ensure that the rescue is successful. This includes the location of the overboard passenger, the conditions of the water and the weather, and the number of people on board.
Falling overboard can be a frightening experience, and it is essential that the proper steps are taken to ensure the safety of the passenger and all on board. By being prepared and taking quick action, it is possible to rescue the passenger and prevent a tragedy on the water.
Situations involving a person falling overboard can quickly turn into a very dangerous situation. Knowing what to do first could be the difference between a rescue and a tragedy.
It is important to maintain a calm demeanor and assess the situation. First, it is essential to get the boat stopped, listing to one side, or preferably all the way stopped. Until the vessel is stopped, further action will not be effective in recovering the passenger. The next step is to identify the location of the overboard person and issue an ‘overboard’ call to alert other boats in the vicinity.
The captain of the vessel should assess their resources for rescue, including crew members and safety equipment. The life-saving equipment available should include life jackets, a rescue throw bag and a life ring in addition to any other items designed to support a recovery from the water.
Whenever possible, the person in the water should be assisted by a life jacket, as this will help to keep them afloat and make them easier to observe. A light should also be positioned facing the area of the water where the person is located.
The boat should then be positioned in a semicircle around the person in the water to reduce the risk of them being pulled away by the currant. An established rescue plan should be in place and colleagues or crew should be briefed on how the rescue will take place.
In the worst case scenario, immediate CPR might be the only option. This can be a complex operation to perform in open water, however if the vessel is equipped with an inflatable rescue raft and the team is trained in open water CPR, this can be attempted.
Ultimately, a well-crafted rescue plan and a fully-equipped boat are key to a successful outcome. Knowing how to respond quickly and effectively in the case of a person falling overboard is essential, and the team should practice boatmanship and safety procedures regularly.