Survive if Lost at Sea
No one wants to contemplate their peaceful sailing vacation or boat trip turning into a disaster-- and most mariners or ship passengers will have safe journeys. However, when faced with the unpredictable nature of the sea, it's best to plan for the worst.
Steps
Preparing for an Emergency
- Make sure your vessel has the following supplies:
- Seaworthy life raft
- Enough life jackets (PFDs) for everyone on board
- Dry suits (particularly if you are in a cold climate)
- Bottled water (enough for everyone on board for several days)
- Radio transmitters (larger vessels should have a device called an EPRB, which helps rescuers locate the person using it)
- Seasickness medication
- Plastic-wrapped packages containing the "Ten Essentials" for everyone aboard.
- Fishnet
- Plastic wrap
- String or rope
- Package your emergency items in waterproof containers above decks, preferably strapped into the lifeboat.
- Create an emergency plan.
- One or two people should be in charge of the following:
- A unique "abandon ship" alarm, which should be heard by everyone aboard
- Deploying lifeboats
- Moving emergency supplies to lifeboat
- Handing out survival gear
- Head count
- One or two people should be in charge of the following:
- Practice your emergency drill with your shipmates.
Surviving a Shipwreck
- Move above decks if you are not there already.
- Collect your survival gear.
- First, put on your dry suit and flotation device. If you have time, stash extra clothing in your suit for warmth.
- Next, make sure you have food, supplies, and a container of water
- Move toward the nearest lifeboat. Although you will be scared, avoid running or thrashing.
- If you are not able to board the raft from the deck, swim towards it. Your odds of being rescued are much higher if you are with the group on a large raft.
- Take seasickness medication, even if you do not usually get seasick. The stress, proximity, and jumpy movements of the raft will probably induce nausea.
