LESSON FIVE BOATING EMERGENCIES

1. LESSON FIVEBOATING EMERGENCIES

2. Key Topics • Risk management • Boating accidents • Personal injuries • Weather emergencies • Summoning help

3. Risk Management Nearly all accidents are preventable. Boating fatalities are most often characterized by: • PFDs are on board but not in use • Good weather conditions • Involvement of small, open vessels with a fiberglass hull • Age of the operator between 26 to 50 years

4. Risk Management (cont.) Risk management is practice of: • Recognizing dangerous situations and reducing chance that they will happen • Lessening effects of accidents if they do happen Increased risk due to boating stressors: • Sun glare and heat, motion, noise, and vibration make you tire more easily on the water. • Boating stressors increase risk of boating accident.

5. Risk Management (cont.) Dehydration increases risk of a boating accident. • Boating causes you to generate more body heat which increases sweating and can causes dehydration if body fluids are not replaced. • Dehydration increases fatigue and makes you more likely to be involved in boating accident. • To prevent dehydration, drink at least one quart of water per hour. • Watch for signs of dehydration. • If symptoms are observed, drink plenty of water and get out of the sun.

6. Risk Management (cont.) Minimize risk of boating accidents by choosing to not consume alcohol. • Effect of alcohol is increased by natural stressors placed on body while boating. • One drink on the water can have same effect as three drinks on land. • Alcohol depresses central nervous system, affects judgment, and slows reaction time. • Always designate non-drinking boaters to operate vessel and act as observer if your group plans to consume alcohol. • Don’t drink and boat!

7. Risk Management (cont.) Minimize risk of drownings by wearing PFDs. Almost all drowning victims aren’t wearing a PFD or are wearing an inadequate one. PFDs: • Must be readily accessible • Are of proper size for intended wearer • Are in good and serviceable condition

8. Boating Accidents Capsizing is when a vessel turns on its side or completely over. Swamping is when vessel fills with water. To reduce the risk, follow these rules:

9. Boating Accidents (cont.) • Do not overload your vessel. • Turn vessel at controlled speeds. • Secure anchor line to bow of vessel. • Do not boat in rough water or bad weather.

10. Boating Accidents (cont.) If your vessel should capsize or swamp, or if you have fallen out and can’t get back in, stay with the vessel. • Take a headcount. Reach, throw, row, or go to anyone in distress. • If vessel remains afloat, try to reboard. If vessel is overturned or swamped, hang onto it. Try to get as much of your body as possible out of cold water.

11. Boating Accidents (cont.) If vessel sinks or floats away, don’t panic. • If you are wearing a PFD, make sure it is securely fastened, remain calm, and wait for help. • If you aren’t wearing a PFD, look for one floating in the water or other buoyant items to use as a flotation device. • Make sure others are wearing PFDs or have a buoyant item. • If there is no other means of support, you may have to tread water or simply float. • In cold water, float rather than tread to reduce hypothermia.

12. Boating Accidents (cont.) Falling overboard is less likely to result in a fatality if everyone on board wears a PFD at all times. Falls overboard can be prevented if those on board do not: • Sit on the gunwale, bow, seat backs, motor cover, or any other area not designed for seating

13. Boating Accidents (cont.) • Sit on pedestal seats when underway or at greater than idle speed • Stand up in the vessel • Move about vessel when underway • Lean out from small vessels

14. Boating Accidents (cont.) If someone falls overboard, immediately: • Reduce speed and throw victim a PFD. • Turn vessel around and carefully pull alongside victim. • Stop the engine. Pull victim on board over the stern keeping weight in the vessel balanced.

15. Boating Accidents (cont.) Collisions can be avoided by: • Following the rules of navigation • Paying attention to navigational aids • Keeping a sharp lookout • Maintaining a safe speed

16. Boating Accidents (cont.) • Looking in all directions before making a turn • Using extreme caution when traveling into sun’s glare • Never operating when fatigued, stressed, or consuming alcohol • Watching for floating debris, especially after heavy rainfall

17. Boating Accidents (cont.) Prevent fire by: • Not mixing the three ingredients required to ignite a fire • Making sure ventilation systems have been installed and are properly used • Maintaining fuel system • Following safe fueling procedures

18. Boating Accidents (cont.) If fire erupts while underway: • Stop vessel and have everyone put on PFD. • Keep fire downwind. • If motor catches fire, immediately shut off fuel supply.

19. Boating Accidents (cont.) • Aim extinguisher at base of flames and sweep back and forth. • Never use water on gasoline, oil, grease, or electrical fire. • Summon help.

20. Boating Accidents (cont.) If you run aground, your first action should be to check for leaks. If impact does not cause a leak, follow these steps to try to get loose: • Stop the engine and lift outdrive. • Shift weight in the vessel to the area furthest away from the point of impact. • Try to shove off from the rock, bottom, or reef with a paddle or boathook. • If this fails, use visual distress signals to flag down help from another vessel or call for assistance using VHF marine radio.

21. Personal Injuries Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia kills in several ways. The colder the water, the greater the chance of death. By understanding how your body reacts to cold water, you can prepare for and be better able to appropriately respond, increasing your chance of survival.

22. Personal Injuries (cont.) • In as little as 10 minutes, you may be unable to self-rescue. Your focus should now be to slow heat loss: • Stay as motionless as possible. • Protect the high heat loss areas of your body. • Keep your head and neck out of the water. • Stay with the boat rather than swim. • Adopt a position to reduce heat loss. If alone use the HELP position. If there are others with you in the water, huddle. • If you must swim, conserve energy and minimize movement. • Be prepared at all times to signal rescuers.

23. Shivering, slurred speech, blurred vision Bluish lips and fingernails Loss of feeling in extremities Cold, bluish skin Confusion Dizziness Rigidity in extremities Unconsciousness Coma Death Personal Injuries (cont.) Symptoms of hypothermia in order of severity are:

24. Personal Injuries (cont.) H.E.L.P. Heat Escape Lessening Postures • This position protects the body’s three major areas of heat loss. • Groin • Head/Neck • Rib cage/Arm pits • Wearing a PDF allows you to draw your knees to your chest and your arms to your sides.

25. Personal Injuries (cont.) • Huddling with other people in the water lessens the loss of body heat and is food for morale. • Rescuers can spot a group more easily than individuals.

26. Personal Injuries (cont.) Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas. It can make you sick in seconds, and in high enough concentrations, even a few breaths can be lethal. • Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: • Irritated eyes • Headache • Nausea • Anyone with these symptoms should be placed in fresh air immediately and if symptoms persist, seek medical help. • Weakness • Dizziness

27. Personal Injuries (cont.) • Never sit on the back deck, “teak surf,” or hang on the swim platform while engines are running. • Never enter areas under swim platforms as air in these areas could be fatal if breathed in. • If exhaust fumes are detected, immediately ventilate. • Install and maintain CO detectors.

28. Personal Injuries (cont.)

29. Personal Injuries (cont.)

30. Personal Injuries (cont.) Some proper responses to other serious injuries are: • Seriously injured should be treated for shock by keeping victim warm, still, and in a lying-down position until medical attention arrives. • Bleeding usually can be controlled by applying direct pressure to wound.

31. Boil Backwash Low-head Dam Escape Route River Navigation Vessel operators may encounter physical structures while underway, such as dams, bridges, and locks. • Low head and conventional dams should be avoided.

32. Dams in rivers create different water levels. Locks safely transport vessels from one water level to another. River Navigation (cont.)

33. River Navigation (cont.) • At locks, obey all warnings signs and signals. • Flashing red– stay well clear of lock; do not enter. • Flashing amber– approach lock at safe speed. • Flashing green– enter the lock at safe speed.

34. River Navigation (cont.) • Watch for bridges that provide only low clearance. • Reduce speed. • Proceed with caution near any bridge or man-made structure which reduces visibility and passage.

35. Weather Emergencies To avoid being caught in foul weather: • Tune a portable radio to local station that gives weather updates. • Be alert to weather conditions. • Track changes in barometer readings. • Watch for wind shifts, lightning, and rough water. • Be observant of weather from all directions. • Watch for fog. • If thunderstorm is approaching, head toward nearest safe shore.

36. Weather Emergencies (cont.) If caught in foul weather: • Have everyone put on a USCG–approved life jacket (PFD) and make sure they are properly secured. • Keep sharp lookout for other vessels and floating debris. • If there is fog, sound your fog horn. • Switch to a “full” fuel tank. • Head for nearest shore that is safe to approach.

37. Weather Emergencies (cont.) • Reduce speed and head the bow into the waves at a 45º angle; PWCs should head directly into the waves. • Close all hatches, windows, etc. to reduce the chance of swamping. • Reduce speed, but keep enough power to maintain headway and steering. • Seat passengers on the bottom of the vessel close to centerline.

38. Weather Emergencies (cont.) • If there is lightning, disconnect all electrical equipment and stay clear of metal objects. • Secure loose items; have emergency gear ready. • Keep bilges free of water. • If engine stops, drop anchor from bow.

39. Summoning Help To summon help, you should carry on board and know how to contact help using: • Visual distress signals • VHF marine radio • Mobile phone • Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

40. LESSON SIXENJOYING WATER SPORTS WITH YOUR BOAT!

41. Responsibilities Operators are responsible for ensuring that their passengers understand basic safety practices and laws. Use a pre-departure checklist to ensure you’ve taken necessary safety precautions then discuss with your passengers.

42. Responsibilities (cont.) Some things that should be pointed out are: • Location of emergency equipment • Need for wearing PFDs • Laws about reckless operation, required equipment, and waste disposal • Safety procedures • How to summon help • Risks of consuming alcohol

43. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Vessel operators should: • Be able to recognize “diver down” flag. • Stay legal distance away from “diver down” flag. • Keep a lookout for bubbles breaking surface of water which may indicate divers below.

44. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Divers should: • Display “diver down” flag. • Select vessel suited for diving. • Avoid overloading their vessels with people, equipment, or supplies. • Always anchor vessel securely.

45. Water-Skiing Before towing a water-skier, operator should: • Have second person on board to act as observer. • Review hand signals with skier. • Make sure skier is wearing USGC–approved PFD. • Be familiar with area and any water hazards. • Make sure tow lines are same length for multiple skiers. • Never ski at night; it is both hazardous and illegal.

46. Water-Skiing (cont.) While towing a skier, operator should: • Start engine, making sure no one in water is near the propeller. • Start vessel slowly until ski rope is tight. • Keep the skier a safe distance from hazards and the shoreline. • Avoid congested areas. • Keep a sharp lookout for other vessels and obstructions —let observer watch the skier.

47. Water-Skiing (cont.) • Always respond to skier’s signals. • Always keep fallen skiers in view and on operator’s side of vessel. • If required, display red or orange flag to alert other boaters that skier is down. • Always shut engine off before allowing skier to board vessel.

48. Water-Skiing (cont.) When in the water, a skier should: • Wear a PFD. • Learn and use hand signals. • Never ski under influence of drugs or alcohol . • Never spray swimmers, vessels, or other skiers, and never wrap tow rope around his or her body. • Always hold ski up out of water after falling to remain in view of vessel operators. • Never approach back of vessel unless engine has been turned off.

49. Water-Skiing (cont.)

50. Personal Watercraft (PWC) Steering and stopping a PWC: • PWC are steered by water being forced through steering nozzle. • Remember you must always have power in order to maintain steering control. • Always allow plenty of room for stopping.