Boating Basics: On the Water
Other Boating Emergencies
A safe boater knows how to prevent and respond to other boating
emergencies.
Falling Overboard
To prevent persons falling overboard:
- Don't sit on the gunwale, bow, seat backs or any other
area not designed for seating
- Don't sit on pedestal seats when at greater than idle
speed
- Don't stand up in or lean out from the vessel
- Don't move about the vessel when underway.
If someone on your vessel falls overboard:
- Reduce speed.
- Throw the victim a life jacket (personal flotation device (PFD)).
- Turn the vessel around and carefully pull alongside the victim,
approaching the victim from downwind or downcurrent, whichever
is stronger.
- Stop the engine. Pull the victim in over the stern.
Capsizing or Swamping
To prevent the vessel from capsizing or swamping:
- Don't overload your vessel. Balance the load.
- Turn your vessel at controlled speeds.
- Anchor to the bow of the vessel, never to the stern.
- Don't boat in rough water or bad weather.
If you capsize or swamp your vessel, or if you have fallen out
and can't get back in, stay with the vessel.
- Try to reboard or if the vessel is overturned or swamped, hang
onto or climb onto it. Get as much of your body out of cold water
as possible.
If the vessel sinks or floats away, don't panic.
- If wearing a life jacket, remain calm and await help.
- If you aren't wearing a life jacket, look around for
one or for other buoyant items to use as a flotation device.
- In cold water, float rather than tread.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia
is defined as the lowering of the body core temperature. Hypothermia
can cause death, and occurs when the body loses heat faster than
it produces it. It can occur anytime an individual is exposed to
cold, wet or windy weather.
- Dress in several layers of clothing under your life jacket
(PFD) or wear a wetsuit or dry suit.
- Learn to recognize the symptoms of hypothermia. Symptoms begin
with shivering and bluish lips and nails, and progress to a coma
and, ultimately, death.
- To reduce the effects of hypothermia:
- Get as much of your body out of the water as possible.
- Don't take your clothes off unless necessary. Remember,
clothes trap heat and can help you float.
Always
wear a life jacket. It helps you to float without excessive
movement and insulates your body.- Draw your knees to your chest and your arms to your sides
protecting the major areas of heat loss.
- If others are in the water with you, huddle together with
your arms around their shoulders.
- Don't thrash or move about. Excess motion consumes
energy and increases loss of body heat.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon
monoxide is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas. CO can make
you sick in seconds. In high enough concentrations, even a few
breaths can be fatal. Sources of CO on your vessel may include
engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, space and water heaters.
Early symptoms of CO poisoning include irritated eyes, headache,
nausea, weakness and dizziness. They are often confused with seasickness
or intoxication. Get anyone with these symptoms into fresh air
immediately. Seek medical attention—unless you're sure
it's not CO.

To protect yourself and others against CO poisoning while boating:
Keep fresh air flowing throughout the vessel at all times.
Know where your engine and generator exhaust outlets are located
and keep everyone away from these areas.
Never sit on the back deck, teak surf, or hang on the swim platform
while the engines are running.
Never enter areas under swim platforms where exhaust outlets
are located–even for a second. One or two breaths of the
air in this area could be fatal.If exhaust fumes are detected on the vessel, immediately ventilate.
Install and maintain CO detectors inside your vessel. Replace
detectors as recommended by the manufacturer.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Situations
| Descriptions of Various Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning Situations |
Illustrations |
Blocked Exhaust Outlets can cause
carbon monoxide to accumulate in the cabin and cockpit
area. |
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Teak Surfing or dragging or
water-skiing within 20 feet of a moving vessel can be fatal.
If persons are using swim platform or are close to the
stern, all gasoline-powered generators with transom exhaust
ports must be off. |
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Another Vessel’s Exhaust that
is alongside can emit carbon monoxide into the cabin and
cockpit of your vessel. Your vessel should be at least
20 feet from a vessel that is running a generator or engine. |
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