Knowing What to do When a Person Falls Overboard Can Save a Life

Sometimes a situation on our boat will cause a person to fall overboard into the water. This could happen when leaning too far over the side to land a fish or it could happen if another boat’s wake causes your boat to be tossed around leading to someone being ejected. The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2020 Recreational Boating Statistics Report ranked falls overboard as the fifth highest cause of boating accidents leading to 181 deaths and 161 injuries. That is why it is important for everyone on board to know what to do if anyone falls overboard so that they can be recovered quickly and safely. And these techniques can also be useful for helping someone who has a water emergency when you are on land whether at the marina or at a dock alongside the waterway.

The Sea Tow Foundation has provided the following 4 steps to help in an overboard emergency:

Step 1: If anyone falls overboard, someone on the boat should immediately yell “Man Overboard” and point to the person in the water. If the person who noticed the fall overboard is the operator of the boat, another person should be designated as the water watcher and continue to point at the person in the water throughout the rest of the event until the person is back on the boat. If the person who fell overboard is the boat operator, someone else should immediately step up and complete the next step while someone else keeps an eye on the person in the water.

Step 2: The boat operator should immediately stop the engine and also press the MOB (Man Overboard) button on the boat’s GPS unit, if one is equipped. If not, a pin can be dropped on an online map to mark the location. This will note the exact coordinates of the location, which may be needed later.

Step 3: Begin the rescue process. When looking to rescue someone in the water, the phrase to remember is “Reach, Throw, Row and Don't Go” as the order to take to bring the person in the water to safety. These steps can work if someone falls in a pool while you are on land or if the person falls into the water from a boat.

• Reach an item out to  the person in the water like a boat hook, paddle, or other item and use it pull him or her toward the boat. The object can help extend the reach and keeps the rescuer safe from being pulled in by the person in the water.
• Throw  a boat cushion or life ring or some other type of floating object to the person overboard so that they can hold on to it. It is even better if this floating object has a rope attached that can be used to bring the person to you. Remember, all boats longer than 16 feet except canoes and kayaks are required to carry a throwable flotation device.
• Row (or motor) the boat slowly toward the person, keeping the person on the boat’s starboard (right) side for better driver visibility. Be careful that the propeller does not get anywhere near the person in the water if the motor must be used to move the boat.
• Don't Go into the water to get the person unless it is the last resort and only if it is safe to do so. The rescuer should be trained in water rescue and be able to swim, plue they should always wear a life jacket. Someone else should stay on board the boat and watch the rescue.

Step 4: Contact the Coast Guard on Channel 16 immediately if you lose sight of the person or can not rescue them. Provide the last know location or coordinates of the missing person.

Don’t forget that using an Engine Cut-Off Switch is now the law!

As of April 1, 2021, federal law requires the use of an Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) for boats less than 26 feet when in motion. This device saves lives by stopping the engine when the boat operator leaves the helm because the device is connected to the operator by a lanyard. There are also wireless models that are available on the market that can offer protection for the boat operator and all of the passengers when each person wears a pendant or FOB on their life jackets. Sea Tow Members can receive a 15% discount on the MOB+™ system and accessories by visiting buy.fellmarine.com.

Free ECOS Wristband with a Donation for a limited time

The Sea Tow Foundation is offering a wristband that can be easily attached to an Engine Cut-Off Switch lanyard for a donation of $50 that goes directly to benefit safety and education programs. The bracelet has a Velcro-adjustable strap for a custom fit and can be quickly removed when the boat operator needs to temporarily leave the helm. And, it meets the requirements for the new Federal Law.  Get yours today at www.boatingsafety.com/ECOS-Wristband.    

Tow Bee Boating Safety Tip: Using an Engine Cut Off Switch

An engine cut-off switch does just that – it turns off the engine automatically. It is often called a Kill Switch because it kills the power to the motor.

An engine cut-off switch is important if the boat operator or a passenger unexpectedly falls overboard when the boat is moving. This can happen when hitting a wave, the wake from another boat, taking a sharp turn, running into a submerged object, or from steering failure. The danger comes in worrying about running over the person in the water with the moving propellers which power the engine underwater and can cause injury or death in seconds. An unmanned powerboat that is still running will end up turning in a circle, often known as the Circle of Death, until it runs out of gas or hits something. And an operator that has been thrown overboard and is attempting to swim to reboard the boat could easily be hit as the boat continues to maneuver in an arc.

The engine cut-off switch is now a requirement for all recreational boats measuring 26 feet or less as of 2018. A copy of this law can be found here.
Engine cut-off switches can be as simple as the lanyard that comes standard with most boats and fits onto the wrist of the operator. Other models allow for wireless options that can be worn by the operator and the passengers of the boat and are activated when the fob-like device that they wear is no longer inside of the boat.

Cody from Waypoint TV talks about the importance of having and using an engine cut-off switch in this video.