Passenger Safety Briefing

The strength of your team is as strong as your weakest link. Before departing the dock, conduct a passenger briefing. The following points should be covered to empower and educate those on board.

Safety Equipment

Share the location of important safety gear and demonstrate how to use it.

• Life Jackets (PFDs): Know where the life jackets are and how to put them on. Wear a life jacket, especially outside on deck or in an open boat.
• Throwable PFD: Show your passengers where it is stored and how to use it in man-overboard emergencies.
• Engine Cut-off Device: Tell your passengers about the engine cut-off device and how to operate it in an emergency.
• Fire Extinguishers: Show them where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
• Distress Signals & First-Aid Kit: Point out where the visual distress signals and first-aid kit are kept and provide a basic overview of how to use them safely.
• Emergency VHF Radio: If you have one, teach them how to use it.
• Anchoring the Boat: Explain how to drop and pull up the anchor.
• Handling lines: Give them basic tips on handling lines.

Emergency Drills

• Man Overboard: Practice what to do if someone falls overboard: make sure someone points to the person overboard and shouts, “Man Overboard.” The boat operator may not be able to see the person in the water but can follow someone pointing overboard. Have a life ring ready attached to a floating throw rope, and toss the device out to the person in the water. Use the wind direction to help guide the device to the person. Pull the person in, reassuring them to stay positive. To maintain control, the operator should approach the person in the water downwind and down current. When ready to pull the person in, stop the engine and pull the person on board on their stomach. Never pull someone aboard on their spine. It can cause severe damage.

• Preventing Man Overboard: Always have three points of contact (like two feet and one hand) on the boat. Make sure people and equipment on the boat are balanced, and try to stay in the middle, especially on small boats. Falling overboard or the boat tipping over can happen quickly if you don’t hold on or stand right.

• Calling for Help: There are two methods for calling for help: cell phones and VHF marine radios. Know what method works best in your area. When available, the VHF marine radio is the preferred method. Read your VHF radio instructions and understand how to use it. Then, brief your passengers on using the radio so they can use it in an emergency.

• Fire Emergencies: Explain how to put out a fire with a fire extinguisher (see emergencies for how to use a fire extinguisher using P.A.S.S).

• Flooding Emergencies: Explain what to do if the boat starts taking on water using a bailing device, and someone to make a mayday call on the VHF radio.

• Driving the Boat: Learn the basics of stopping, starting, and steering the boat, just in case the person driving the boat can’t.

Communication

• Safety Communication: Agree on some common terms everyone will use. This helps make sure everyone understands what’s happening. Here are some terms you might hear:
  • “Coming Up”: This means the boat is going to speed up.
  • “Coming Down”: This is when the boat slows down.
  • “Turning to Port (or Starboard)”: This means the boat will turn left (port) or right (starboard).
  • “Standby for Wake or Heavy Rolls”: Get ready and hang on, because the boat might rock or bounce a lot due to waves or other movements.

• Proper Lookout: Let your passengers know they must keep watch by sight and sound. They need to point out any dangers like other boats, rocks, or sea animals. Tell them to use the ‘clock method.’ For example, if there’s a whale straight ahead, they should say, “Whale, 12 o’clock.” This makes it easy for everyone to know where to look quickly.
• Bad Weather Plan: Tell them what to do if a storm hits or the water gets rough and to keep watching the sky for changing weather.
• Trip Info: Make sure they know about the trip, like where you’re going, the names of places, and how long you expect to be out. This is important in case they need to tell search and rescue.