FALLING OVERBOARD - ASSISTED RECOVER

part 3 of 3

According to the Executive Summary Boating Statistics compiles by the U.S Department of Transportation United States Coast Guard, 82% of fatalities occurred on boats less than 26 feet in length and 71% of those victims drowned. I don't find that surprising, smaller boats rock and roll more. It does however offer a reason why I have spent the last three newsletters talking about "falls overboard". This is the last in the series. In our last issue we covered the self-recovery method. Definitely the easier of two recovery methods. This issue we will cover the important points involving assisted recovery. But first a word of caution...

The prospect of writing about a situation involving a possible non-responsive person in the water is daunting at best. There are too many variables involved; not the least of which is the possible immediate loss of life if proper action is not taken quickly. Each situation is different and your reaction will be dependant on "conditions", water, weather and the person in the water. As with all safety tips, you should not rely on a single source for all your safety information.

OK, this time the person is in the water and seems to be in real trouble. Your first response is the same as the self-rescue, get something that floats to the person. He or she may be able to help to some degree in the rescue. Second, resist going or sending anyone in the water after the person overboard. If someone does go into the water to help the person overboard, he or she MUST wear an approve PFD.

It is also important that you do not lose site of the person overboard. As in our last article, if there is one available, appoint a human arrow. That person should point continuously at the person overboard while you maneuver the boat for recovery. This is usually more important in the open ocean with larger waves than usually found on inland bodies of water, but a good policy in any event.

The best way to approach the person being recovered is to move the boat windward (towards to wind) moving past the person and position the boat so that it will float back towards the person overboard. Once you feel confident that the boat will drift back towards the person to be recovered SHUT OFF THE MOTOR and position yourself (in a PFD) to effect the recovery. Hopefully by this time the person in the water has a PFD on. That's important because it becomes a nice handle. Getting the person back into the boat can be a little difficult. The lowest part of the boat to the water is the stern. Slid the person along the boat to that position and grab the lowest portion of the PFD or under the arms and lift the person into the boat.