FALLING OVERBOARD - SELF RESCUE

part 2 of 3

Who knows why he fell overboard? He may have been leaning against the gunwale and his feet slipped. He may have had too much to drink and a course change got him disoriented. Whatever the reason, there he floats and he's not the greatest swimmer in the world!

The action needed, at this point, will be determined on several factors:

• What is the ability for the person to save himself?
• Is he injured or uninjured?
• Is he a good swimmer?
• What type of weather are you in?
• What is the water's condition?

In this section we will cover "Self Rescue". It can be the simplest technique. You'll notice I said, "can be". You never want to take anything for granted. He may be the greatest swimmer and seem uninjured and in an instant be in big trouble!

1. Stop the boat and throw a flotation devise. The rule is if it floats and it's nearby get it to him fast! A "PFD" at one point needs to be one of those items, and the sooner the better.
2. You will want to turn your boat and move in closer to your swimmer. Appoint a spotter to keep an eye on the swimmer. That person should now assume the role of a human arrow, continuously pointing at the person in the water during the recovery.
3. Approach the person in a slow deliberate manner. It's best to move slightly in windward.
4. When you are within reaching distance to the swimmer SHUT OFF THE MOTOR!
5. Assist the swimmer into the boat.
6. As soon as possible while the events are fresh in everyone's mind, conduct a debriefing. Try and determine the cause of the accident and review the recovery to see if anything can be learned.