1. Chapter Five
Boating Emergencies

2. Key Topics Risk Management Boating Accidents Personal Injuries
Weather Emergencies
Summoning Help

3. Objectives understand how to practice risk management while boating.
You should …
understand how to practice risk management while boating.
understand the effects of boating stressors.
understand how dehydration occurs and how to recognize and prevent it.
understand the increased effects of alcohol on the water.

4. Objectives (cont.)
be able to properly size a PFD for a wearer and check a PFDs condition.
be able to take the proper safety actions if a boat capsizes, is swamped, or someone falls overboard.
know how to avoid collisions.
be able to respond properly to a fire emergency.
know how to prevent or respond to running aground.

5. Objectives (cont.)
be able to recognize the symptoms of hypothermia, avoid hypothermia if trapped in cold water, and give basic treatment to victims.
know how to prevent and be able to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
be able to obtain weather forecasts and recognize weather warnings, and know what to do if caught in foul weather.

6. Risk Management PFDs are on board but not in use
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 boats with a fiberglass hull
Age of the operator between 26 to 50 years

7. Risk Management (cont.)
Profile of a Typical U.S. Boating Fatality
PFDs are on board but not in use
Vessel is small boat of open design
⅓ of time alcohol is involved
Daylight, good weather
Operator is male, 26 to 50,
with boating experience
Nearly all accidents
are preventable

8. 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
Sun glare and heat, motion, noise vibration make you tire more easily on the water.
Boating stressors increase risk of boating accident.
Increased risk due to boating stressors:

9. Risk Management (cont.)
Dehydration increases risk of boating accidents:
Boating causes you to generate more body heat—increases sweating, can cause dehydration if body fluids not replaced.
Dehydration increases fatigue, more
likely to be in a boating accident.
To prevent dehydration, take a
drink of water every 15–20 minutes.
Watch for signs of dehydration. If symptoms are observed, drink plenty of water, get out of the sun.

10. Risk Management (cont.)
Minimize Risk of Boating Accidents—Avoid Alcohol
Effect of alcohol increased by natural
stressors placed on body while boating.
One drink on the water—same effect
as three drinks on land.
Alcohol depresses central nervous
system, affects judgment, slows reaction time.
Designate non-drinking boater to operate vessel and act as observer if you plan to consume alcohol.
Don’t drink and boat!

11. Risk Management (cont.)
Minimize Risk of Drownings—Wear PFDs
Drownings are rare when boaters are wearing a PFD. Have everyone on board wear one. Requirements for PFDs include:
Must be readily accessible
Are of proper size for intended wearer
Are in good and serviceable condition
If using an inflatable PFD, before each outing, check the status of the inflator and CO2 cylinder.

12. Risk Management (cont.)

13. Boating Accidents
Capsizing is when a boat turns on its side or turns completely over. Swamping occurs when boat stays upright and fills with water. To help prevent and prepare for capsizing, swamping, or someone falling overboard:

14. Boating Accidents (cont.)
Make sure that you and passengers are wearing lifejackets.
Attach ignition safety switch lanyard to your wrist, clothes, or life jacket.
Don’t allow anyone to sit
on gunwale, bow, seat
backs, motor cover, or
any area not designed
for seating.

15. Boating Accidents (cont.)
Don’t overload boat—balance the load.
Keep center of gravity low. When you must move in a small boat, maintain three points of contact.
Don’t allow anyone to lean a shoulder beyond gunwale in a small boat.
Slow boat when turning.
Do not boat in rough water or bad weather.
Secure anchor line to bow of vessel—never to stern.

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

17. Boating Accidents (cont.)
If boat sinks or floats away, don’t panic.
If you are wearing a life jacket, make sure it is securely fastened, remain calm, and wait for help.
If you aren’t wearing a life jacket, look for one floating in the water or other floating items.
Make sure others are wearing PFDs.
You may have to tread water or simply float.
In cold water, float rather than tread.

18. Boating Accidents (cont.)
If someone on your vessel falls overboard, you need to immediately:
Reduce speed and toss the victim a PFD.
Turn boat around and slowly pull alongside victim, approaching from downwind or into the current.
Stop engine. Pull victim on board over stern, keeping weight in boat balanced.

19. Boating Accidents (cont.)
Preventing Collisions
Follow the rules of navigation.
Pay attention to navigational aids.
Keep a sharp watch and appoint a lookout.
Maintain a safe speed.
Look in all directions before turning.
Use caution when traveling into the sun’s glare.
Never operate when fatigued, stressed, or when consuming alcohol.
Watch for floating debris.

20. Boating Accidents (cont.)
Dealing With Fire Emergencies
To help prevent a fire:
Don’t mix the three ingredients required to ignite a fire.
Make sure ventilation systems have been installed and are used properly.
Maintain fuel system.
Follow safe fueling procedures.

21. Boating Accidents (cont.)
If fire erupts on your boat:
Stop the boat and have everyone put on a PFD.
If fire breaks out at the back of the boat, keep the bow into the wind.
If the fire is at the front, put the stern into the wind.
If fire is in the engine space, immediately shut off fuel supply.

22. 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.

23. Boating Accidents (cont.)
Running Aground
Knowing your environment is the best way to prevent running aground.
Become familiar with locations of shallow water and submerged objects before you go out.
Learn to read a chart to determine your position and depth.

24. Boating Accidents (cont.)
If you run aground, make sure no one is injured and then check for leaks.
If the impact did not cause a leak:
Do not put boat in reverse. Stop the engine and lift the outdrive.
Shift weight in boat to area furthest away from point of impact.
Try to shove off from the rock, bottom, or reef with a paddle or boathook.
Check to make sure vessel is not taking on water.
If you can’t get loose, summon help.

25. Personal Injuries
Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia kill in several ways. The initial response to cold water can occur in water as warm as 77° F.
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.

26. Personal Injuries (cont.)
There are four stages of cold water immersion.
Stage 1: Initial “cold shock”
Occurs first 3 – 5 minutes
Stage 2: Short-term “swim failure”
Occurs 3 – 30 minutes following immersion
Stage 3: Long-term immersion hypothermia
Sets in after 30 minutes
Stage 4: Post-Immersion collapse
Occurs during or after rescue

27. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Your chance of surviving a cold water immersion depends on:
Having sufficient flotation to keep your head above water
Controlling your breathing
Timely rescue by yourself or others
Heat retention

28. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Prepare for boating in cold water conditions:
Always wear a secured life jacket.
Wear layered clothing for insulation.
Equip your boat with a means for re-entry to use if you should fall in.

29. Personal Injuries (cont.)
The best prevention is to take all measures necessary to avoid capsizing your boat or falling into cold water. If you do fall into cold water:
Don’t panic.
Try to get control of your breathing.
Hold on to something or stay as still as possible until your breathing settles down.
Focus on floating with your head above water until the cold shock response abates.

30. Personal Injuries (cont.)
When your breathing is under control, perform the most important functions first before you lose dexterity (10 – 15 minutes after immersion).
If you were not wearing a PFD when entering the water, look to see if one is floating around you and put it on immediately.
Don’t take your clothes off unless absolutely necessary.

31. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Focus on locating and getting everyone out of the water quickly before you lose full use of your hands, arms, and legs.
Try to reboard your boat, even if it is swamped or capsized, or anything else that floats.
Get as much of your body out of the water as possible.

32. 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.

33. Personal Injuries (cont.)
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.

34. 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 PFD allows you to draw your knees to your chest and your arms to your sides.

35. 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.

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

37. Personal Injuries (cont.)
When treating hypothermia:
Get the victim out of the water as soon as possible. Remove the victim gently and in a horizontal position.
Prevent further heat loss.
Treat the hypothermia victim gently, and to your level of training. Be prepared to provide basic life support.
Seek medical help immediately.

38. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas. It can make you sick in seconds. In high enough concentrations, even a few breaths can be fatal.
Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
Irritated eyes
Headache
Nausea
Weakness
Dizziness

39. Personal Injuries (cont.)
These symptoms often are confused with seasickness or intoxication.
Anyone with these symptoms should be placed in fresh air immediately and if symptoms persist, seek medical help.

40. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Protect yourself and others against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Allow fresh air to circulate throughout the boat at all times.
Know where your exhaust outlets are located and keep everyone away from these areas.
Install and maintain CO detectors.

41. 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.

42. Personal Injuries (cont.)
If exhaust fumes are detected, immediately ventilate.

43. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Before each boating trip:
Know where exhaust outlets are located on boat.
Educate passengers about symptoms of CO poisoning.
Confirm that water flows from exhaust outlet when engines and generator are started.
Listen for any change in exhaust sound.
Test the operation of each CO detector.

44. Personal Injuries (cont.)
At least monthly:
Make sure exhaust clamps are in place and secure.
Look for leaks from exhaust system components.
Inspect rubber exhaust hoses.
At least annually, have a qualified marine
technician check the engine and exhaust system.

45. 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.
Control bleeding by applying direct pressure
to wound.

46. Personal Injuries (cont.)
Immediately place minor burns in cold water, and apply a dry bandage after pain subsides. Seek medical help for major burns.
Seek medical assistance immediately for broken and dislocated bones.
In cases of head, neck, or spinal injuries, never move victim more than is absolutely necessary.

47. Weather Emergencies
How to Avoid Severe Weather
Tune a radio to a 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—especially west.
Watch for fog.
If a thunderstorm is approaching, head toward nearest safe shore.

48. Weather Emergencies (cont.)
Daytime Flags
Nighttime Lights
Small Craft Advisory
Winds 21 to 33 knots
Gale Warning
Winds 34 to 47 knots
Storm Warning
Winds 48 knots and above
Hurricane Warning
Winds 64 knots and above

49. Weather Emergencies (cont.)
What to Do if Out in Severe Weather
Slow down.
Close all hatches, windows, and doors.
Stow any unnecessary gear.
Turn on all navigation lights. If there is fog, sound your fog horn.
Keep bilges free of water.
If there is lightning, disconnect electrical equipment and stay clear of metal objects.

50. Weather Emergencies (cont.)
Prepare your passengers for severe weather.
Have everyone put on a USCG–approved life jacket (PFD) and make sure they are properly secured.
Have passengers sit on the floor close to the centerline.

51. Weather Emergencies (cont.)
Decide whether to go to shore or ride out the storm.
Head for nearest shore that is safe to approach. If already caught in storm, remain in open water.
Head bow into waves at 45-degree angle. PWCs should head directly into waves.
Keep sharp lookout for other vessels, debris, shoals, or stumps.
If engine stops, drop a “sea anchor” on a line off the bow.
Anchor boat if necessary.

52. Summoning Help Visual distress signals VHF marine radio Mobile phone
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)
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)