Recovering Someone Who Falls Overboard (2024)

FAQs

What should your first action be to rescue a victim who has fallen overboard? ›

React immediately

Yell, "Man overboard!" so that everyone on board the boat is aware of the situation, and stop the boat as soon as you realize someone has fallen off the boat. At least one person should maintain visual contact with the victim (also called the swimmer), says the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety.

Reduce speed and toss the victim a lifejacket or PFD, unless you know he or she is already wearing a lifejacket or PFD. Turn your pleasure craft around and slowly pull alongside the victim, approaching the victim from downwind or into the current, whichever is stronger. Stop the engine.

Ideally, in any man overboard scenario, the casualty should be approached with the vessel downwind of the persons position, with the vessel moving upwind. The man overboard rescue turn is often carried out as part of regular drills on Merchant ships as a requirement of the SOLAS Convention.

If someone falls overboard, immediately: sound the alarm, turn bow in the direction of the person overboard, stop engines, throw a buoyant object to assist the person and mark the position. assign one person to constantly keep the person in the water in sight. manoeuvre the vessel carefully to pick the person up.

While it may seem counterintuitive, your own personal safety should always be the number 1 priority in any rescue situation. Self-preservation is paramount! People in difficulty in the water are likely to be in a state of panic, fearing for their lives, and this makes the situation highly dangerous.

Whoever first sees the person in the water, should extend their arm pointed directly toward the individual and shout, “Man Overboard!” followed by “Port Side!” or “Starboard Side!”. This person's sole job is to keep pointing and keep their eyes on the person the entire time until the rescue has been completed.

The person who sees the accident must raise the alarm by shouting “Man overboard!” loud and clear enough to alert the rest of the crew. They should remain in place in order to maintain continuous visual contact with the victim. If the victim is close enough, flotation equipment should be thrown in their direction.

Anderson Turn/Single Turn: This is the fastest recovery method. It is most appropriate turn for ship in clear visibility. In case of this turn, rudder is put hard over to the side of the casualty.

Whoever sees the accident is to shout, "Man overboard!" loudly and clearly to alert the rest of the crew. At least one person should do nothing other than stand and point at the casualty maintaining continuous visual contact.

When a person who has fallen overboard? ›

First, alert those on the vessel that someone has fallen overboard. Determine if you can safely rescue the person that fell into the water. Assess that you can see them, safely navigate your vessel to them, and assist the person that has fallen overboard. Jumping into the water to go get someone is the last option.

After the Fall

Stay with the patient and call for help. Check the patient's breathing, pulse, and blood pressure. If the patient is unconscious, not breathing, or does not have a pulse, call a hospital emergency code and start CPR. Check for injury, such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, and broken bones.

If someone else falls overboard

Slow down immediately. Throw the person a lifejacket or marker immediately – if you lose sight of them this will help you find them. Warn approaching vessels. Move towards the person from downwind or against the current.

Throw, Don't Go

You want to throw a rescue line or lifebuoy flotation device to the person, giving them something to grab onto and keep themselves afloat. Make sure everyone who's on your boat understands how to throw and use these for increased safety.

– Crew members shout 'man overboard' until the entire crew is aware of the situation. – Press the MOB button on the GPS. – Release the lifebuoy to the MOB. Mark the MOB with a buoyant smoke flare.

The person who sees the accident must raise the alarm by shouting “Man overboard!” loud and clear enough to alert the rest of the crew. They should remain in place in order to maintain continuous visual contact with the victim. If the victim is close enough, flotation equipment should be thrown in their direction.

To take appropriate actions in any emergency, follow the three basic emergency action steps — Check-Call-Care. Check the scene and the victim. Call the local emergency number to activate the EMS system.

The first priority after any disaster is appropriate medical care. In a boating accident, you should check whether you or anyone else requires medical attention. If anyone has injuries, call for professional help right away. The Coast Guard is able to assist with this.

– Crew members shout 'man overboard' until the entire crew is aware of the situation. – Press the MOB button on the GPS. – Release the lifebuoy to the MOB. Mark the MOB with a buoyant smoke flare.