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Reprinted from “Fishing and Skiing Boats Owner’s <strong>Manual</strong>”<br />
with permission from the NMMA.<br />
Section III<br />
Emergency Procedures<br />
The time to think about emergencies is before they happen.<br />
Plan ahead. Know what to do before you encounter any of<br />
these situations. Wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device)<br />
when boating.<br />
Explosion & Fire<br />
EXPLOSION/FIRE/ASPHYXIATION HAZARD<br />
• Open flame cooking appliances consume oxygen.<br />
This can cause asphyxiation or death.<br />
• Throw burning materials overboard if possible.<br />
• Move anyone not needed for firefighting operations<br />
away from the flames.<br />
• Signal for help.<br />
• Put on PFDs, grab distress signals and survival gear,<br />
and prepare to abandon ship.<br />
Abandoning Ship<br />
• Maintain open ventilation.<br />
• Liquid fuel may ignite, causing severe burns.<br />
• Use fuel appropriate for type of stove.<br />
• Turn off stove burner before filling.<br />
• Do not use stove for comfort heating.<br />
FIRE/ASPHYXIATION HAZARD - Use special care with<br />
flames or high temperatures near urethane foam, if used<br />
in construction of your boat. Burning, welding, lights,<br />
cigarettes, space heaters and the like can ignite urethane<br />
foam. Once ignited, it burns rapidly, producing extreme<br />
heat, releasing hazardous gases and consuming much<br />
oxygen.<br />
Explosion<br />
• If explosion is imminent, put on PFDs, grab distress<br />
signals and survival gear, and immediately abandon<br />
ship.<br />
Fire<br />
• Turn off engines, generators, stoves and blowers<br />
Extinguish smoking materials.<br />
• Fixed fire suppression system, if equipped, has heat<br />
sensors that automatically flood machinery space with<br />
a fire extinguishant. Allow extinguishant to “soak”<br />
compartment for at least 15 minutes to cool hot metals<br />
or fuel before cautiously inspecting fire area. Have<br />
portable fire extinguishers ready. Do not breathe fumes<br />
or vapors caused by the fire or extinguishant.<br />
• If no fixed firefighting system is installed and fire<br />
is in engine compartment, discharge portable fire<br />
extinguishers through engine compartment access<br />
plate, if equipped. Do not open engine hatch as this<br />
feeds oxygen to the fire.<br />
• If you have access to fire, direct contents of<br />
extinguishers at base of flames, not at the top.<br />
© 2008 Skier’s Choice, Inc.<br />
BURN HAZARD<br />
Swim against the current or wind if you abandon ship.<br />
Leaking fuel will float with the current and may ignite.<br />
• When clear of danger, account for all who were on<br />
board, and help those in need.<br />
• Use distress signal.<br />
• Keep everyone together to make rescue easier.<br />
Flooding, Swamping or Capsizing<br />
• STAY WITH THE BOAT! A boat will usually float even<br />
if there is major hull damage. Rescuers can spot a<br />
boat much easier than a head bobbing in the water.<br />
• Signal for help.<br />
Collision<br />
• Account for everyone on board.<br />
• Check for injuries.<br />
• Inspect structural damage.<br />
• Reduce flooding.<br />
• Signal for help.<br />
• STAY WITH THE BOAT!<br />
Grounding<br />
Action depends on how hard the boat hits bottom and<br />
whether the boat remains stranded. If it is a simple touch,<br />
you may need only to inspect the hull. If you are aground,<br />
assess the situation before reacting. In some cases,<br />
throwing the boat into reverse can cause more damage.<br />
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