Safer Boating with Coastguard
You’re out on the water and, with a good haul of fish, the day’s going well. And then out of nowhere a rogue wave sends you overboard. This frightening scenario can happen easily and very quickly, turning a great day’s fishing into something much more dan
T his is exactly what happened to two friends from Nelson – Isaac and John. Their fishing trip came to an abrupt end when a swell came out of nowhere and flipped their boat. Finding themselves in the water was a shock. The tinny was half- submerged, all their gear was gone – including their phones. Their only hope was to clamber onto the upturned boat and sit on the hull until help arrived.
If you find yourself in this situation, there are many things you can do to stop an unexpected event from turning into a tragedy.
MAN OVERBOARD! WHAT TO DO IF YOU END UP IN THE WATER
It might seem harmless falling into the water, but prolonged exposure to the cold increases your chances of hypothermia, with your body losing heat 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air. If you do end up in the water and can’t get back on the boat, do this to minimise heat loss and stay afloat: • Remain calm • Assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) if you’re on your own. This means keeping your arms tight across your chest, grabbing the armpits of your lifejacket with the opposite arm, pressing your thighs together and raising your knees to your chest • Use the huddle position if you’re in a group. Keep children in the middle of your huddle as they’re smaller and lose heat more quickly • Use the whistle on your lifejacket to attract attention • If the boat’s capsized, get on top and try to stay out of the water. This will help you stay warmer • If you have a waterproof VHF call for help, avoiding the predicament of our two Nelson boaties.
WHAT TO DO IF THE SKIPPER ENDS UP IN THE WATER
If the skipper falls overboard, the first thing to do is try and get as close as possible to him/her. That means turning the boat around if you can. If not, stop the boat to minimise the distance. It’s essential that you can see where he/she is at all times. The next steps: • Throw something. As soon as possible throw buoyant objects, such as a life buoy, spare lifejackets or even an empty chilly-bin. A rope will also be useful • Drop anchor. If you are drifting away from the person, consider lowering the anchor (make sure the rope’s attached to the boat and your feet are not tangled in it before deployment) • Call for help. Phone 111 or *500 to connect directly with Coastguard. You can also use Channel 16 on your VHF radio, or an EPIRB or PLB to immediately get help from rescue authorities or other boats nearby.
If you find yourself in this situation, there are many things you can do to stop an unexpected event from turning into a tragedy.
Responding to an unexpected event or an emergency can be quite daunting – if you need more knowledge try an appropriate Coastguard Boating Education course. The new Beginning Boating mobile-friendly course covers the basics to help you become an informed crew member, and be more confident and relaxed on the water this summer.
There’s also the In-water Survival course where you can learn essential sea survival techniques. Visit www. boatingeducation.org.nz for more information. Be prepared and have fun on the water this summer.