Chapter 15 : In Case of Emergency

Most boating accidents happen when the weather is clear and the water is calm. Accidents usually occur because of negligence on someone’s part. Not paying attention, being distracted, and excessive alcohol consumption are all contributing factors to accidents, and they can be just as damaging as accidents on the road.

Statistics show that most fatal accidents occur due to a person falling overboard or the boat capsizing and they subsequently drown because they aren’t wearing life vests. Even people who are good swimmers can become disoriented and stressed when suddenly plunged into the water. Fatigue sets in and they become helpless.

Non-fatal accidents usually occur due to collisions with other boats or objects in the water. This is where carelessness, inattention, and intoxication can come into play. Here are a few of the more common accidents and what to do in the event they should happen.

Capsizing

The majority of small pleasure boats, and all built after 1978, have floatation to keep them from sinking even if they capsize. If you should capsize it may be safer to stay with the floating boat than try to swim to shore. Small boats can capsize for a variety of reasons:

  • Overloading slows a boat down and reduces the amount of freeboard (area above the waterline). A low freeboard increases the possibility of swamping the boat or taking on water which will slow the boat even more. Don’t overload your boat with passengers or equipment.
  • Improper weight distribution can make the boat even more unstable. You must locate persons and equipment in order to balance the boat and keep water out.
  • Waves can be a major factor in capsizing especially if they are unexpected. Anticipate all waves and aim the bow into them.

If your boat should capsize, the first thing to do is take a head count and make sure all passengers are accounted for. Get life vests to everyone, stay calm, and stay with the boat. Also check for injuries as best as you can.

If your life jackets (PFDs) have floated out of range you can use anything available to keep afloat until you can reach the boat. This might include ice chests, empty soda bottles, etc.

You should conserve energy but begin to signal for help using available equipment such as visual distress signals, horn, mirror, etc.

If you can, turn the boat upright and bail it out. Once most of the water is out climb back in. Or, if close to shore, just climb in the boat and paddle.

Man Overboard

Standing or riding on the gunwales or bow of a boat causes most crew overboard situations. If you must move around in a boat which is underway, stay low, hold on to both sides and have at least three points of contact with the boat at all times. Failing to do so can cause a “man overboard” situation.

If you find yourself with a person overboard, use the following procedures:

  • Whoever first sees or hears someone go overboard should shout "crew overboard (port or starboard)". This person should become the spotter and continually point to the person in the water until the boat is safely alongside. Try not to lose sight of the crew overboard; it is extremely difficult to locate a person in the water.
  • Turn the bow of the boat quickly toward the side the person fell over and stop the boat. Turning toward the person will push the stern and propeller away.
  • Immediately throw a life saving device toward the person so they will have some assistance in keeping afloat. Your type IV throw-able flotation device should always be immediately accessible and within reach of the helm.
  • Slowly turn the boat and make a gentle turn keeping the person in view.
  • Approach the person slowly into the wind or current.
  • When the person is alongside turn off the engine.
  • Adjust the weight to keep the boat trimmed and help the person aboard: usually over the stern.

Do not go into the water to assist the person unless absolutely necessary. If the victim is unable to board or needs further assistance and someone must go into the water, make sure they have on a PFD and that they are attached to the boat with a line.

Should you find yourself in the water there are survival techniques you can use while waiting to be picked up. Hopefully, you have been a safe boater and you have on your PFD. If not, you will have to float or tread water until rescued.

One method of floating is the horizontal back float. This comfortable position keeps your face out of the water and allows you to conserve energy. You simply lie back motionless with your arms outstretched, arching your back slightly, allow your legs to rise straight out.

Another method of floating is the vertical back float. This position does not float your entire body on the water’s surface. Your body is still underwater except for your face and upper chest with your arms extended out to each side.

If you cannot float in this manner, you can practice survival floating. Very simply put, tilt your head back, slowly press down with your arms and legs to bring your mouth above the water, inhale, hold your breath and go limp for a few seconds. Your face will go underwater while you dangle your arms and legs. Exhale as you are tilting your head back and preparing to break the water's surface so that a minimum amount of energy and movement is required to keep your head out of the water long enough to inhale.

Treading water requires more energy than floating but keeps your head above water. Treading water is accomplished by doing a slow series of scissor kicks with your legs while slowly waving your outstretched arms back and forth on the water’s surface.

Should you find yourself capsized or overboard in a swift river current, turn on your back and position your feet downstream. This will help cushion blows from rocks and debris.

When you find yourself in the water keep your clothes on to help prevent heat loss. Because they also trap air they can assist you in floating.

Assistance from Shore

Every year people drown within a short distance of the shore. When some trauma happens, such as stepping off an underwater shelf the surprise itself can cause a drowning response. The victim, even if they can swim, suddenly can not shout for help and just splashes around in the water. Exhaustion can occur in a minute or less and the person then quits splashing and sinks. Should you find someone needing assistance from shore, remember the following.

Reach out your hand, a pole, belt, line, boat hook or anything that can be held onto. If this doesn’t work, throw anything that floats and that the victim can hold onto, a life ring, PFD, beach ball, cooler, etc.

If they are too far away and can’t reach the floating object, row out to the victim if a boat is near taking anything that floats with you. As you approach take an oar and reach out to the person so they can hold onto something and pull themselves to the boat. If none of the above things are possible.

Finally, go for help. Do not try to make a rescue by swimming to the victim unless you are a certified life guard. The drowning victim could grab hold of you and pull you down even if you are a good swimmer.

Falling Into Cold Water

Even when the weather is warm, do not forget that in many areas the water can be very, very cold. A sudden unexpected wake or other "unbalancing event" can land you in the frigid water. Your body can cool down 25 times faster immersed in cold water vs. exposed to cold air.

If you should fall into cold water, it helps to know what happens to the body. There are four stages that accompany hypothermia.

A sudden, unexpected entry into cold water may cause a reflexive "gasp" (cold shock) allowing water to enter the lungs. Drowning can be almost instantaneous. When you realize you’re about to fall into the water, you should cover your face with your hands. Covering your mouth is an attempt to avoid gulping water into your lungs.

You will then find yourself unable to swim effectively. You lose manual dexterity and are unable to match your breathing with your swimming stroke. Coordination in your arms and legs is lost which will cause you to expend more energy to keep your head above water.

After that, hypothermia sets in. Hypothermia is a condition that exists when the body’s temperature drops below ninety-five degrees. This can be caused by exposure to water or air. This loss of body heat results in loss of dexterity, loss of consciousness, and eventually loss of life.  This can happen in as little as 15 minutes when you are in cold water.

Hypothermia is progressive - the body passes through several stages before lapsing into an unconscious state. Mild hypothermia is when the person feels cold, has violent shivering, and slurred speech.

With moderate hypothermia, the person has some loss of muscle control, drowsiness, incoherence, stupor, and exhaustion. Severe hypothermia causes the person to collapse and show signs of cardiac or respiratory distress which can lead to death.

Conservation of heat is the foremost objective for a person in the water. To accomplish this, limit body movement. Don't swim unless you can reach a nearby boat or floating object. Swimming lowers your body temperature and even good swimmers can drown in cold water.

If you can pull yourself partially out of the water - do so. The more of your body that is out of the water (on top of an over-turned boat or anything that floats), the less heat you will lose. Especially keep your head out of the water if at all possible - this will lessen heat loss and increase survival time.

Wearing a PFD in the water is a key to survival. A PFD allows you float with a minimum of energy expended and allows you to assume the heat escape lessening position. This position, commonly referred to as the fetal position, permits you to float effortlessly and protect those areas most susceptible to heat loss including the armpits, sides of the chest, groin, and the back of the knees. If you find yourself in the water with others, you should huddle as a group to help lessen heat loss.

Hypothermia requires medical treatment. If medical treatment is not immediately available, treatment can be accomplished by gradually raising the body temperature back to normal. Re-establishing body temperature can be as simple as sharing a sleeping bag or blanket with another individual, or applying warm moist towels to the individual’s neck, sides of chest and groin.

Remove wet clothes as they inhibit heat retention. A warm bath could be used for mild to medium hypothermia, gradually increasing the temperature. Keep arms and legs out of the water and do not attempt to raise the body temperature too quickly.

Do not massage the victim’s arms and legs. Massage will cause the circulatory system to take cold blood from the surface into the body’s core, resulting in further temperature drop. Do not give alcohol, which causes loss of body heat, or coffee and tea which are stimulants (and cause vasodilation) and may have the same effect as massage.

Once pulled from the water, a person’s body reacts in some very specific ways:

  • Loss of hydrostatic pressure from the water causes a sudden drop in blood pressure. This can cause heart or brain failure.
  • Your heart is cold and cannot pump cold blood effectively to maintain blood pressure.
  • Your lungs are damaged from the water you inhaled. This can cause a pneumonia-like illness.
  • Fatal bleeding from injuries may occur as your body warms up and your blood flows more freely. You may have internal injuries or injuries to your head and neck that you and your rescuers are not aware of. Up to 20 percent of all survivors die during rescue or shortly after.

Onboard Fires

An onboard fire is a serious event. If the fire cannot be controlled where does one go except in the water? The fire triangle consists of fuel, oxygen and heat. All three must be present to start a fire and the removal of any single one can extinguish a fire.

Fuels, such as gasoline and propane, can be very dangerous if precautions are not taken. The fumes of these fuels are heavier than air and tend to collect in the cabin, bilge and other lower areas of the boat. Because they naturally are surrounded by oxygen all that is necessary to start a fire is heat. This could come from something as simple as a spark from an ignition component. All you did was turn the key to start the engine and boom. Most boat explosions and fires occur during or right after fueling.

You should read and understand the instructions on your fire extinguisher(s). If a fire starts you should be prepared and not hesitate. Grab the fire extinguisher, activate it, and direct it at the base of the flames using short bursts and sweeping it from side to side.

Remember P. A. S. S.

  • P ull pin
  • A im at base of flame
  • S queeze handle
  • S weep side to side

If underway and a fire starts, stop the boat and position it in such a manner that the fire is downwind. Order everyone to put on lifejackets. If possible try to turn off the fuel source to the fire. Grab the extinguishers and control the fire.

Check the gauge on your fire extinguisher regularly to ensure that it is charged properly. Also, check all of the seals to make sure nothing has been tampered with. Remember, you should have the extinguisher recharged after you have used it.

First Aid

Should one of your passengers fall ill or find themselves injured, you need know about certain first aid procedures. To begin with, you should have a well-stocked first aid kit on board. The following items should be standard in your first-aid kit:

  • First aid manual
  • Adhesive bandages in various sizes
  • 3-inch sterile pads
  • Triangular bandages
  • 1-inch and 3-inch rolled bandages
  • Tweezers and blunt scissors
  • Cotton balls and cotton tipped applicators
  • Antiseptic
  • Sun screen (minimum SPF 15)
  • Calamine lotion
  • Motion sickness pills or patches
  • Aspirin or substitutes
  • Eyewash cup

Prior to anything, someone should summon for help by calling 9-1-1 or signaling on the rescue radio that assistance is needed. Stay calm and know that there are things that you can do if an emergency arises.

If a victim is not breathing, they must be attended to immediately. Rescue breathing is used to maintain an airway and cause air to flow in and out of the lungs. Rescue breathing should be continued until the person can breathe on their own or until rescue personnel arrive.

To administer rescue breathing, you should first check inside the mouth to make sure that there are no obstructions. Tilt the person’s head back slightly and hold your fingers under your chin and pinch their nose shut.

Cup your mouth around theirs and give the person two full breaths. Their chest will rise if you are getting air into their lungs. Turn your head to the sign and listen for any breath sounds.

It may be necessary to administer CPR to an unconscious person who is not breathing. This is meant to be a guide only. Anyone can greatly benefit from a CPR course given through the American Red Cross, so it’s a good idea to look into that for any situation.

Before administering CPR, check for a pulse. This can be done on the neck or at the wrist. A person in cardiac arrest will also have abnormal breathing, if any at all. If you’re not sure of their pulse, go ahead and administer CPR using the following steps:

  • Position your hands in the center of the chest between the nipples. Place one hand on top of the other.
  • Push down firmly approximately two inches and pump 15 times strongly.
  • Perform 2 breaths of rescue breathing in between pumps and continue with the pumps.
  • If you should hear a cracking noise, try not to be alarmed. It is highly possible for a rib to crack when administering CPR, but the damage is slight and must less serious than a stopped heart.
  • Continue alternating chest compressions and breathing until help arrives.

Shock

A person goes into shock when an un-nerving situation is present such as a near collision, a collision, or falling into the water. If left untreated, shock can actually cause death due to the collapse of the cardiovascular system carrying oxygen to the body’s organs.

Signs of shock include cold, clammy skin; profuse sweating; pale color; bluish lips; rapid pulse; and labored breathing. The person may seem “out of it”, but they may also act perfectly normal as well. Look for signs of shock objectively.

To treat a victim of shock, lie them on their back and cover with warm blankets. Elevate their feet 8 – 12 inches higher than the head. Do not give them anything to eat or drink at this point. Just keep them comfortable until help arrives.

Bleeding

Cuts, scrapes, and bruises are inevitable in everyday life. When a cut exhibits excessive bleeding, there are steps that can be taken to control it before it becomes life threatening.

Place direct pressure on the wound with a sterile dressing or clean cloth. If there are no suspected broken bones, elevate the bleeding area above the level of the heart. Apply a pressure bandage to keep the dressing or cloth in place. Wrap snugly – even a bit tightly – over the cloth to keep pressure on the wound. If blood soaks through the bandage, do not remove the original one. Just place additional dressing over the top of what you already put there.

Monitor the victim’s vital signs and look for signs of possible shock. Help the injured person rest comfortably and reassure them that things will be fine. Once the bleeding is under control, check for any other injuries. A normal body temperature should also be maintained.

Burns

Burns are classified by depth of injury; the deeper the burn, the more severe it is. Treating burns should be done in such a manner as to relieve pain, prevent infection and prevent or treat for shock.

  • First degree burns redden the skin much like sunburn. Immerse the affected area in cool water or cover it with a cloth soaked in cool water. If necessary apply a dry dressing and cover it with a bandage.
  • Second degree burns form blisters. Treat in the same manner as first degree burns. Do not break or try to remove any burned tissue. Do not apply any kind of antiseptic sprays or ointments. If possible keep the affected area above the victim’s heart. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
  • Third degree burns char and destroy tissue. Call for medical help immediately. Treat for shock if necessary and continue treatment as in second degree burns.

Broken Bones

A broken bone should be immobilized immediately using whatever means you have at your disposal. A broken bone should be moved as little as possible while help is on the way.

Check the person for signs of shock and treat any other secondary injuries. Stop bleeding if there is any and make the person as comfortable as possible without risking further injury.

Reporting Accidents

Federal law states that if you are involved in a boating accident that includes injury requiring medical treatment, death, disappearance of a person, or property damage of at least $2000.00, you are required to file an accident report with the responsible local law enforcement agency.

If you are involved in an accident, you are required to stop and give assistance to other persons involved. You must give aid to the extent you can do so without endangering yourself or your passengers.

You are also required to give your name and address and the number of your vessel (if numbered), in writing, to the owner of any property damaged in the accident.

Many states have different reportable amounts - check your state specific information. If in doubt, report the accident.

Boating accidents include; capsizing, crew overboard, collisions, fire, sinking & flooding, explosions and disappearance.

Helping Others

Federal law requires that the owner, operator, or anyone in charge of a vessel involved in a marine casualty render assistance. Failure to provide assistance or identify yourself when involved in an accident is a serious offense and can carry a severe fine or even imprisonment.

Each vessel owner, operator or individual in charge involved in the marine casualty should give his or her name, address and identification of the vessel to the owner, operator or individual in charge of any other vessel involved in the casualty, to any individual, injured, and to the owner of any property damaged.

Violating this requirement can carry a fine and/or imprisonment.

Be prepared to help others in trouble if at all possible but do not take unnecessary risks which could put your life in danger. Don’t panic, have life saving equipment ready and approach the accident carefully. Watch for persons in the water and throw floatation devices to any who do not have any. Talk to the people and assess any injuries they may have. Administer first aid if necessary and get the people to shore as quickly and safely as possible.

Remember not to overload your own boat with too many people. If necessary take victims requiring the most assistance into the boat and throw a line to the others and tow them slowly as you proceed.

Running Aground

While this seems like an accident unlikely to happen, the reality is that it does. Some bodies of water have land masses just below the water line that aren’t easily visible, and it’s very possible to run aground if you’re not paying attention. Running aground can cause damage to your boat and your passengers as well.

Should you run aground in an inboard/outboard vessel you should stop the engine, lift the out drive and shift the weight away from the impact point.

Your first duty should be to assess the situation:

  • Check the people onboard to make sure no one is injured.
  • Assess what damage that might have occurred.
  • Is the boat taking on water? If so find the source of the leak.
  • Set an anchor to keep yourself from being pushed further aground. This also may be used later to pull you off.
  • Use a lead line or boat hook to check the water depth around you.
  • Check your chart for bottom characteristics.
  • Check the tide tables and determine the next high tide.

If you were moving slowly when you grounded and hull damage looks to be minimal, you may be able to simply back off by shifting the weight farthest from the point of impact and using an oar or boat hook to push off.

As you start to move be sure to check once again to make sure you are not taking on water from a hole caused by the grounding.

If backing off is not a viable option or if it doesn't work you could consider using the anchor to kedge off. You do this by pulling or winching in on the anchor line attached to the kedge anchor you set as outlined above.

Should your hull be severely damaged stay put and call or signal for help from another vessel or commercial marine towing company. You are not going to sink if you can step off the boat onto terra firma.

Your final option short of waiting for the tide to come in is arranging a tow. You should consider carefully whether to accept a tow from another boater who is inexperienced. Towing can be hazardous and can cause bodily harm and damage to one or both boats unless someone in the party is aware of the precautions that must be taken. If this is the case, call a commercial towing company. Do not call the US Coast Guard unless you are in imminent danger.

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