A Course for Safe Boating

114

California Boating

Chapter 5

Accident Prevention and Rescue

Rescue

If a collision happens, people may have fallen overboard or your vessel may

be capsized or severely disabled. Take needed actions that are outlined

under

Capsizing or Sinking

on page 107 and

Passenger Overboard

page 112.

If you’re not involved in the collision, or if your vessel is not seriously

damaged, you should stand by to offer help.

If you need further help, use a radio or signaling device to call for help.

Be sure to warn other boats when people, debris or flammable liquids are

in the water.

Case Study

An inexperienced personal watercraft operator (on her second trip) was riding

alongside a friend on another personal watercraft. The friend was slightly

ahead of her when he suddenly slowed down. She let off the throttle, trying

to slow down, but instead lost control of her craft. She slid sideways into her

friend. He sustained a fractured spinal cord, and was paralyzed from the waist

down. He also had serious head and chest injuries. She was thrown into the

water. The fall left her unconscious, but her life jacket kept her afloat.

Questions:

1. Identify the mistakes that the people made and the proper actions they

could have taken.

2. What could these people have done differently to prevent this accident?

3. What steps could you take to rescue the victims and/or make the

situation better?