Man Overboard
A man overboard is a situation where a person falls off a boat into the water and needs to be rescued. It can happen due to various reasons, such as loss of balance, a sudden move of the boat, not holding on while the boat is moving, or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This situation is highly dangerous because the individual risks drowning without a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), faces potential injury from propeller strikes or other hazards, and their life is in immediate danger if they are not rescued promptly.
If a person falls overboard, here are the steps you should follow:
- Sound the alarm: As soon as you notice someone has fallen overboard, alert others on the boat.
- Keep sight of the person: Assign someone to keep constant sight of the person who has fallen overboard, pointing to them with an outstretched arm for the operator to know the victim’s location. This person is known as the spotter.
- Throw a buoyant object: Throw something that floats; this will help them stay afloat and indicate the direction of the wind and current.
- Throw a type IV U.S. Coast Guard-approved throwable device: This device may be a seat cushion style or a throw ring style. These devices are required on boats larger than 16 feet in most states. Attach a floating line or throw bag to the device for ease of pulling in the person or rethrowing if necessary,
- Approach the person: As the boat operator, you should close in on the person who has fallen overboard while slowing down simultaneously. Approach the person downwind to avoid drifting into the person and maintain boat control.
- Shut off the motors: Once the person has grasped the line, shut off the motors.
- Recover the person: Use a reboarding device or a lifting harness to recover the person overboard.
If you are in distress, raise both arms above the head and repeatedly wave them.
