SEARCH AND RESCUE MAY 2020

A GUIDE FOR BOAT COXSWAINS Second edition May 2020 Updated Time/Speed/Distance Table January 07 First edition October 1, 2006

Courtesy: US COAST GUARD

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This edition has been updated and expanded by Hortensia Sampedro, USCG Auxiliary, D7, DIV6, Flotilla 7. The original SAR guide was previously updated and reintroduced by Jim Emery, D5 North, Flotilla 74, and Jim Shea, D7, DIV6, Flotilla 09, who working with their partners and SAR School, originally updated the Coxswain SAR Guide and brought it out of retirement in 2006. Acknowledgements This effort is dedicated to “Sandpiper” crew Bob Hacker, Julian Corrales, Efrain Sora, watchstander Joel Aberbach, 070-06-6, and LCDR Michael Cortese, CO, Station Miami Beach, for the “32 people in the water, and one dog.” October 2013. Special thanks to Auxiliarists David Ray Neal, ADSO-OPS MIAMI, D7, DIV6, F 65, and Capt. Karen L. Miller, SO-MT, 070-11-01, and to USCG Damien Niebla, BM1, SMB, for their support and detailed review. Disclaimer All information found in this guide is subject to change or update. This guide has been developed and updated from the cited references and as such claims no original content, i.e. most of the language is taken directly from cited reference sources. It is the coxswain’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the most current guidance and regulations found in the applicable Coast Guard instructions. This guide is not a substitute for common sense and situational awareness. The ultimate responsibility for the safety of the passengers and crew rests with the coxswain. PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS – The guide is designed to be carried on board as a small brochure. Printing should be done on 8 ½ x 11 sheets set to half.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction 4 2. Risk Management 5 3. Briefing 6 4. En route 6 5. On Scene 7 – 8

6. First SRU On Scene 9 7. Speed/Timetable in Minutes: Seconds 10 – 11

8. Search Patterns 12

a. Track line, Single Unit, Return (TSR) 13 b. Parallel, Single Unit (PS) 14 c. Creeping Line, Single Unit (CS) 15 d. Expanding Square, Single Unit (SS) 16 e. Sector, Single Unit (VS) 17 - 18 f. Shoreline Search 19

9. Flare Sightings 20 10. Sightings and Identification 21 11. Boat Crew Fatigue 21 12. Firefighting 22 13. Completing the Mission 22

14. Rescue Planning 23 - 24

a. Debriefing the Survivors 25 b. Handling Private Property 26 c. Towing checklist 26

Small Boat Capacities 61 References COMDTINST M16130.2F USCG Addendum to the US National Search and Rescue Supplement (NSS) to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR) January 2013 COMDTINST M5000.3 (SERIES) USCG Regulations 1992 BOATCREWHANDBOOKS BCH 16114.1 thru BCH 16114.5 December13, 2017 COMDTINST M16114.32 USCG Boat Operations and Training (Boat) Manual, Volume I COMDTINST M16114.42 USCG Boat Operations and Training (Boat) Manual, Volume II COMDTINST M10470.10G Rescue and Survival Systems Manual September 09, 2014 N.B. COMDTINST M16790.1 has been discontinued and replaced by COMDTINST M 16114.1 THROUGH M116114.1 National Response Department website Search pattern drawings from NSS manual

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1. IntroductionInaccordancewithCoastGuardRegulations,COMDTINSTM5000.3(series),thecoxswainshallberesponsiblefor,inorderofprecedence:

1. Thesafetyandconductofpassengersandcrew2. Thesafeoperationandnavigationoftheboatassigned3. Thecompletionofthesortieormission(s)assignedorundertakenpursuant

toCoastGuardpolicyandregulationsTheSARMissionCoordinator(SMC)hasseveraltoolsavailabletohelpdeveloptheoptimumSearchActionPlan(SAP).Computer-basedtoolsalongwithanextensivesearchplanningprotocolhelpguidetheSMCthroughtheplanningstageofthecase.Yet,theSMC’sbestlaidplan,baseduponthemostaccuratedatumcalculationsandusingthebestresourcesavailable,willlikelyfailtolocateandrescuethesurvivorsifthecoxswainsdoesnotapplythebestpracticestothecase.“Althoughexperienceisthebestteacher,sometimeswedon’thavealltheexperienceweneed.Thisguidehasonepurpose–tohelpcoxswainsconductthebestsearches.Theresultsofthecaseareinyourhands.”JimSheaandJimEmery.

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2. RiskManagement1Inordertounderstandtheriskassessmentandmanagementprocess,itisnecessarytodefinesafety.Onedefinitionis“theidentificationandcontrolofrisk.”Riskmanagementidentifiesandcontrolsrisk,accordingtoasetofpredeterminedparameters.Itisonetoolformaintaininganacceptablelevelofsafety.Theparametersandtheacceptablelimitsvarywiththetypeofoperation;rescueoperations,buoytending,icebreaking,lawenforcement,etc.Controllingriskmeansweeliminateorreducehazardsthatcanleadtomishaps.Remember,riskmanagementistheresponsibilityofeveryoneinvolved!Theriskassessmentandmanagementprogramassume:

• Everyevent/evolutionhassomedegreeofrisk• Alltheriskswillneverbeknown• Everyevent/evolutionrequiresbalancingriskbyapplyingadequatecontrol• Resourcesavailabletoidentifyandmanagerisksarelimited

Thegoalistocontroloreliminateallunacceptableriskineachevent/evolution.Followthesestepstomanagerisk:

1. Definethemission–TOW,MEDEVAC,flare,OVDU,etc.2. Identifyhazards–usethePEACEmodel3. Assessrisks–usetheGARmodel4. Identifyoptions–usetheSTAARmodel5. Evaluateriskvs.gain–neveraccepthighriskforlowgain!6. Executethemission–keepevaluating7. Monitorthesituation–riskmanagementisacontinuousprocess

1 Refer to the CG Addendum for a detailed description of the PEACE, GAR, and STAAR models.

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3. BriefingWheneverpossible,theCoxswainshouldbriefthecrewoftheSRUpriortodeparting.However,theurgencyofthecallmayrequireabriefingwhileenroute.Beforeyoulaunch,orwhileenroute,makesureyouobtainthefollowinginformation:

1. Natureofdistress2. Lastknownposition3. Descriptionofthesearchobject4. Numberofpeopleonboard(orinvolved)5. SpecifictaskingfromtheSMC6. Onsceneandforecastweather

Gatherasmuchinformationaspossiblebeforelaunching,soyou’llbesuretoselecttherightresourcesandbringanyadditionalequipmentneeded,suchasadewateringpump,stokeslitter,hand-heldradio,extralifejackets,etc.

4. EnRoutePreparations–SRUcrewmembersshouldmakeeveryefforttoprepareforthesearchpriortoarrivalinthesearcharea.Preparationsincludebriefingandassigninglookoutsandestablishingarelief/rotationscheduleifappropriate.TheGPSwithchartsoftheareashouldbepreparedforuse,withthesearchreaboundaries,searchpattern,andturningpointsplotted.Homing,monitoring,andonsceneradiofrequenciesshouldbetuned.Dependingupontheresourcesusedandtheweatherconditions,equipmentnecessarytoperformtherescueshouldalsobepreparedforimmediateuse.SearchingEnRouteThereisalwaysapossibilitythatthesearchobjectisoutsidetheassignedsearcharea.Therefore,searchingwhileenroutetotheassignedsearchareaisonewaytheSRUcanincreasethesearchareasize.Bypostinglookoutswhileenroutetoandfromthesearcharea,effectivetracklinesearchingcanbeaccomplishedandtheresultsshouldbepassedtoSMCthroughtheOn-SceneCoordinator(OSC).CheckingInCheckinwiththeSMCorOSCapproximately15minutesbeforearrivingonscenetoreportyourstatusandlimitations,andtoobtainasearchupdateoranyadditionalinstructions/tasking.

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5. OnScene

Communications–CoxswainshouldeffectregularcommunicationsandprovideSituationReports(SITREPs)aswarranted.DatumMarkerBuoy(DMB)–whennecessary,theSMCwillinstructoneoftheSRUstodeployaDMBtomeasureTotalWaterCurrent(TWC).IftaskedtodeployaDMB,makesureyourecordandreportthetimeandpositionwhereitwasinserted,thebeaconfrequencyforaradioDMB,ortheserialnumberforaSelf-LocatingDMB.YouwilltypicallyuseafenderorliferingwithastrobelightasyourDMB.SearchActionPlan(SAP)–YoushouldmakeeveryefforttofollowtheSAP.WhentheSAPneedstobemodified,reporttheproblemtotheSMCalongwithrecommendationstocorrecttheproblem.SituationsrequiringanSAPtobemodifiedincludehazardstonavigationinthesearcharea;insufficientwaterdepth;inappropriatetrackspacingbaseduponprevailingweatherconditions,andthepositionofthesuninrelationtothelookouts.AnytimetheSAPdoesn’tmakesenseonscene,reportittotheSMCalongwithyourrecommendations.SearchPatternSummary–YoumaybetaskedwithcompletingasearchusingasearchpatternsummaryprintedfromtheSARToolssoftware.LiketheSAP,ifthesearchpatterndoesn’tmakesenseonscene,reportittotheSMCalongwithyourrecommendations.ReportingtheWeather–Onsceneweatheraffectsbothsweepwidthandtrackspacing.YoushouldreportonsceneweathertotheSMCasyoustartyoursearchandreportanyweatherchangesasyoursearchprogresses.Navigation–Makeeveryefforttoremainontrackduringyoursearch.Subsequentsearchesassumeyousearchedasplanned.VisualDistressSignals(VDS)–AdistressedvesselhasalimitednumberofVDSs,ifanyatall,andexperiencedmarinersusuallydonotactivatethesesignalsuntiltheyseeorhearanSRU.YoushouldconsidertheuseofaudiblesignalssuchasanairhornorwhistlewhensearchingtoencouragethedistressedvesseltouseitsVDSswhiletheSRUisinthearea.PyrotechnicdevicesmaybeusedtomaketheSRUspresenceknowntothedistressedvessel.However,anysignalused,whethervisualoraudible,mustnotbemistakenbyotherSRUsasadistresssignal.AuralSearches–SurfaceSRUsshouldmakeeveryefforttoreducebackgroundnoises,andoccasionallystoptheenginestopermitfaintcallsforhelptobeheard.Ifpossible,lookoutsshouldbepostedawayfromtheenginesandradios.

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Reports–SituationReports(SITREPS)shouldbesenttotheSMCuponarrivalonsceneandwheneverimportantinformationneedstobepassed.Lookouts-Effectivescanningbylookoutsisaccomplishedwithaseriesofshort,regularlyspacedeyemovementsthatbringsuccessiveareasofthewaterintothecentralvisualfield.Eachmovementshouldnotexceed10degrees.Eachareashouldbeobservedforatleasttwoseconds,plustimetorefocus,ifnecessary.NightandReducedVisibilitySearches–Nightvisibilityshouldbemaintainedbyavoidinguseofunnecessarylighting.Useofnightvisiongoogles(NVG)surfacevesselradar,forward-lookingairborneradars(FLAR),Forward-LookingInfraredSystem(FLIR),ifavailableshouldbeused.

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6. FirstSRUonSceneWithoutspecifictaskingfromtheSMC,youshouldreportonsceneweatherconditionstotheSMCandprepareforyourinitialsearch.Refertothefollowingtableforinitialtrackspacing:

InitialTrackSpacing(NM)

SearchObject GoodConditions

Winds<15knotsSeas<3feet

PoorConditionsWinds>15knotsSeas>3feet

PIW 0.1*

0.1*

Vessels<15feet 0.5 0.2

Vessels>15feet 1.0 0.5

*or>0.1dependingonSRU’sminimumnavigationalaccuracyandmaneuveringcapability

Notes:

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7. TimingChart ThischartshowsthetimerequiredtoruneachofthefirsttwolegsofanExpandingSquare(SS)searchpatternandeachlegofaSectorSearch(VS)atdifferentspeedsaccordingtotheinitialtrackspacing.TocalculatethetimerequiredtocompleteoneSectorSearch(VS),multiplythelegtimebynine.

Speed/TimeTableinMinutes:Seconds

TrackSpacing 6Kts 7Kts 8Kts 9Kts 10Kts 11Kts 12Kts

0.1 01:00 00:51 00:45 00:40 00:36 00:33 00:300.2 02:00 01:43 01:30 01:20 01:12 01:05 01:000.3 03:00 02:34 02:15 02:00 01:48 01:38 01:300.4 04:00 03:26 03:00 02:40 02:24 02:11 02:000.5 05:00 04:17 03:45 03:20 03:00 02:44 02:300.6 06:00 05:09 04:30 04:00 03:36 03:16 03:000.7 07:00 06:00 05:15 04:40 04:12 03:49 03:300.8 08:00 06:51 06:00 05:20 04:48 04:22 04:000.9 09:00 07:43 06:45 06:00 05:24 04:55 04:301.0 10:00 08:34 07:30 06:40 06:00 05:27 05:00

Notes:

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CalculatingTimeSpeedDistancewithAlgebraicCalculationsTofindDistance,D=SxT/60TofindSpeed,S=D/Tx60TofindTime,T=D/Sx60Timeisalwaysgiveninminutes,distanceisalwaysinnauticalmiles(NM),andspeedisalwaysgiveninknots(KT).Examples~Ifaboatistravelingat10knots,howfarwillyoutravelin20minutes?D=SxT/60D=10x20/60D=200/60D=3.3NMAboathastraveled12NMin40minutes.Whatisitsspeed(S)?S=60D/TS=60x12/40S=720/40S=18KTSTheboatiscruisingat15knotsandhas12NMmorebeforereachingitsdestination.Determinehowmuchlongerbeforearrivingatthedestination.T=60D/ST=60x12/15T=720/15T=48minutesNotes:

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8. SearchPatterns2Eachsearchpatternhasaspecificuse.Somearebettersuitedforsmall,confinedareas,whileothersarebettersuitedtolargerareas.Regardlessofthetypeofsearchpatternselected,asacoxswain,youareexpectedtounderstandtheSMC’sSAPandbeabletocompletetheassignedsearch.OncetheSMCdeterminesthesearcharea,asystematicsearchfortheobjectmustbeplanned.TheSMCwillconsiderweather,searchareasize,searchobjectsize,numbersofSRUsavailable,searcharealocation,andtimelimitationsindecidingwhichpatterntouse.Arecordshouldbekeptoftheareasearched,byusingshadeorcrosshatchonthechartoftheareassearchedandreportingbacktotheSMC,typicallyat50%anduponcompletion.Searchpatternsaredesignedbyletters.Thefirstletterindicatesthegeneralpatterngroup:T=Trackline P=Parallel C=CreepingLineV=Sector S=ExpandingSquareThesecondletterindicatesthenumberofSRIsassignedtothatpattern:S=SingleUnit M=Multi-unitThethirdletterindicatesspecializedpatternsorinstructions.Thetwomostcommonlyusedare:R=Return N=Non-returnNotes:

2 Search pattern drawings from NSS manual. Use of aircraft symbol is for convenience and not intended to replace surface assets.

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A. Trackline,SingleUnit,Non-Return(TSN)Trackline,SingleUnit,Return(TSR)

Designation:TangoSierraNovemberandTangoSierraRomeoUsedwhen:

• Theintendedrouteofthesearchobjectisknown,and

• Arapidandreasonablythoroughcoverageofthemissingcraft’sintendedtrackandtheareaimmediatelyadjacent,suchasalongadatumline(intendedtrackcorrectedfordrift)isdesired.

DescriptionUsuallythefirstsearcheffortinanoverduecasesinceitisassumedthatthesearchobjectisneartrackandeitheritwillbeeasilyseen,orthesurvivorswillsignal.TSNsearchterminatesattheoppositeendoftrackfromwhereitbegan.FortheTSRtheSRUsearchesout½trackspace(S)inthedirectionoftheintendedtrackfromtheorigintothedestinationandends½Sontheothersideoftheorigin.

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B.Parallel,SingleUnit(PS)Designation:PapaSierraUsedwhen:

• Thesearchareaislarge

• Onlyapproximateinitialpositionisknown

• UniformcoverageisdesiredDescription:TheSRUsearchesparalleltothelongside(majoraxis)ofthesearcharea,movingoveronetrackonthereturn.Thisprocesscontinuesuntiltheentiresearchareahasbeensearchedorthesearchobjectislocated.TheCommenceSearchPoint(CSP)islocated½trackspace(S)insidethesearchareainthespecifiedcorner.

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C.CreepingLine,SingleUnit(CS)

Designation:CharlieSierra

Usedwhen:

• Thesearchareaislarge• Thelocationofthesearchobjectisapproximate,butthereisagreater

chancethatthesearchobjectisatoneendofthesearchareaversustheother(i.e.debriswasfoundononeendduringaprevioussearch),and

• Uniformcoverageisdesired.

Description

TheSRUsearchesparalleltotheshortside(minoraxis)ofthesearcharea,movingoveronetrackonthereturn.Thisprocesscontinuesuntiltheentiresearchareahasbeensearchedorthesearchobjectislocated.TheCommenceSearchPoint(CSP)islocated½trackspace(s)insidethesearchareainthespecifiedcorner.

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D.ExpandingSquare,SingleUnit(SS)Designation:SierraSierra(SS)Usedwhen:

• Thesearchareaissmall• Thelocationofthesearchobjectisknownwithinrelativelycloselimits,but

somedoubtexistsaboutthedistressposition,and• Aconcentratedsearchisdesired

Description:TheSRUgoestothebest-knownlocationofthesearchobject.Thisbecomesthecenter(datum)ofthesearcharea.Datumshouldbemarkedwithabuoy,lifering,strobelight,etc.Thefirstlegwillbeginfromdatuminthedirectionofdriftforonetrackspace(S).Ifthereisnodrift,thefirstlegwillbetruenorth,000*T;thesecondlegis090*T,thenextis180*T,andsoon.Allcoursechangesare90*totheright.Searchleglengthisincreasedbyonetrackspaceoneveryotherleg.Multiplyyourtrackspace(S)bythenumbersshowninthesearchpatternbelowtodetermineleglength.Asecondsearchisperformedbyrotatingthesearchpattern45*totheright.

Notes:

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E.Sector,SingleUnit(VS)

Designation:VictorSierra

Usedwhen:

• Thesearchareaissmall• Thelocationofthesearchobjectiswellknown,and• Aconcentratedsearchisdesired

Description:

TheSRUgoestothebest-knownlocationofthesearchobject.Thisbecomesthecenter(datum)ofthesearcharea.Datumshouldbemarkedwithabuoy,lifering,strobelight,etc.Thefirstlegwillbeginfromdatuminthedirectionofsetforonetrackspace(S).Ifthereisnoset,thefirstlegwillbetruenorth,000*T,thesecondlegis120*T,thenextis240*T,andsono.Onthe3rd,6th,and9thlegs,steeronyourdatummarker,oncepassed,returntoyourbasecourse.Allcoursechangesare120*totherightandthelengthofalllegsareequaltooneS.AsecondVSsearch(withthesameSRU-VS)isperformedbyrotatingthesearchpattern30*totherightbeginningatdatum.Asecondsearch(withasecondSRU–VM)isperformedbyrotatingthesearchpattern90*totheleftbeginningatdatum.Ifthesearchisorientedoveradatummarker,adjustmentfortotalwatercurrent(TWC)willoccurautomatically,andonlyleewaymustbeconsidered.

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Notes:

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F.ShorelineSearch

Usedwhen:

• ThesearchareaisclosetotheshorelineDescription:Vesselsengagedinshorelinesearchesmustbeawareofnavigationalconstraintsandanylimitationsimposedbyseaconditions.Thecoxswainshouldconsiderthepossibilityofsurvivorsclingingtonavigationalaidssuchasbuoys,ortorocksoffshore.Survivorsmaymaketheirwaytoanydrylandtheymaydriftcloseenoughtoseeoranchortheirboatorraftortieittoanoffshorenavigationalaid.

Notes:

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G.FlaresightingMeasuring-FistMethod

Notes:

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9. SightingsandIdentificationWhilesearching,youmayencounterobjectsthatneedtobeinvestigated.Ifyouneedtodivertandleavethesearchpattern,dosoonlyafterrecordingormarkingthepositionandprogressinthesearchpatterntowhichyouareassigned.Oncesightingidentificationiscomplete,andtheresultsarenegative,returntothepositionrecordedandcontinuethesearch.NotifySMChowmuchtimeisspentevaluatingsightings.

10. BoatCrewFatigue

MaximumUnderwayLimits3

MaximumUnderwayHours

BoatSize Seas<4FT Seas>4FT HWX

RestRequired

Aux/Non-Standard<30 8 8Aux/Non-Standard>30 8 6 8Notes:PWCsmaynotbeoperatedinseasgreaterthan3feet.PWCpatrolsmayoperateforamaximumof6hoursduringany24-hoursperiod.Amandatory1-houroffthewaterrestisrequiredafter3hoursofPWCoperations.

Notes:

3 Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual COMDTINST M16798.3E, Chapter 4 E, Table 4-1

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11. FirefightingCoastGuardpersonnelshallnotengageinindependentfirefightingoperations,excepttosavealifeorintheearlystagesofafiretoavertasignificantthreatwithoutunduerisk.

12. CompletingtheMissionTheSARSystemisactivatedintheawarenessstage,uponfirstnotificationofanactualorpotentialSARincident.Thereportmaycomedirectlyfromthedistressedparty,athirdparty,orfromanelectronicsignal,suchasanEmergencyPositionIndicatingRadioBeacon(EPIRB).TheSARSystemisdeactivatedorshutdownunderoneofthefollowingsituations:

• CaseClosed–Thedistressedpersonorcraftislocated,andnecessaryassistanceisrendered

• FalseAlarm-Thepersonorcraftreportedtobeindistresshasbeen

determinednottobeindistressanddoesnotneedfurtherassistance

• ActiveSearchSuspended(ACTSUS)-Suspendingthesearchafterexhaustingallpossiblehopeforlocatingsurvivorswiththeinformationknown

Inmanycases,onlytheSARCoordinator(SC)isauthorizedtosuspendasearch.However,dependinguponthetypeofcase,theSMCmighthavetheauthority.ConsultyourDistrictSARPlanforfurtherguidance.Forthepurposeofthisguide,let’ssayyoufindthesearchobject.Whatarethemostimportantthingsyoumustdo?Thesinglemostimportantthingistonotifyyourstation,theOSCandotherSRUsthatyouhavefoundthesearchobjectandthepositionwhereyoufoundit.Onceyou’vefoundthesearchobjectandreportedit,stopforamomentandthinkthecasethrough.Averyimportantquestionatthistimeis–canyou,withthepersonnelandequipmentthatyouhavewithyou,completethismissionsuccessfully?Onseveralcases,coxswainshavethoughttheycouldbutcouldn’t.Theresultsoftheiractionscomplicatedthecase.If,forinstance,youfeelthatalargerSRUisrequiredfortowing,orthatmorepumpsarerequired,orthatyouwillneedamedicalevacuation,youmusttellyourstationthatthisisso.Don’ttrytodoitallyourselfifyoufeelthatyoucouldusesomehelp.

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13. RescuePlanningDuringmostcases,theactualrescueofsurvivorsistheeasiestpartofthemission.SRUsarenormallyabletorecoverthesurvivorswithoutanyproblems.Sometimes,however,theSRUisunabletoperformtherescuethemselves,andrescueplanningbecomesessential.ExamplesofwhenanSRUmightnotbeabletoperformtherescueinclude:

• ToomanysurvivorsforoneSRUtocarry• WeatherconditionsexceedthecapabilitiesoftheSRU• Locatingthesurvivorsbyafixedwingaircraft,and• ThedistancefromshoreexceedsthecapabilitiesoftheSRU

WhentheSRUcannotperformtherescue,theSMCmustdevelopaneffectiverescueplan.Rescueplanningincludesthefollowingelements:

• Evaluatingthesurvivabilityoftheincident• Evaluatingtheenvironment• Selectingtherescuemethod• Selectingtherescuefacilities,and• Developingtheoptimumandattainablerescueplan.

Chapter6oftheNationalSARSupplement(NSS)providesadetaileddiscussionontheelementsofrescueplanning.Chapter4oftheCoastGuardAddendumtotheNSSprovidespolicyonprovidingdistressandnon-distressassistance,generalsalvage(otherthantowing),firefightingactivitiesandnavigationalassistance.MedicalCommunication(MEDICO)-AMEDICOconsistsofprovidingemergencymedicaladvicetothecrewofashipatsea.Thisisnormallyaccomplishedbyradioorsatellitetelephone.MEDICOisaninternationaltermandcanbeusedwithforeignflaggedvessels.Undernormalcircumstances,themedicalinformationisprovidedbyCoastGuardFlightSurgeonsbutmayalsobefromhospitalscontactedbytheshippingagentorinternationalorganizationsuchastheInternationalRadioMedicalCenter(CIRM),locatedinRome,Italy.MedicalEvacuation(MEDEVAC)-AlwaysthinkHIGH-RISKwhenconsideringaMEDEVACmission.AFlightSurgeonmustbeconsultedpriortoperformingthemission.TheFlightSurgeonmayrecommendaMEDEVAC.However,itisnotanorder.ThefinaldecisiononperformingaMEDEVACalwaysrestswithyou,thecoxswainonscene.

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Ifyoutakesurvivorsonyourboat,neverleavethemalone,andensuretheyareproperlyputintoalifejacket.Peoplewhoaresavedaresometimespanicstricken,thinkingirrationallyorinastateofshock.Ifleftalone,survivorsmightdosomethingthatwouldthreatenthesafetyofyourboat,yourcrew,andtheirlives.Makethemcomfortableandkeepamemberofyourcrewwiththem.Remembertohandleallsurvivorswithcare.Roughhandlingwhiletryingtogetthemaboardyourboatcouldmakeaseriousinjuryfatal.Treatallsurvivorsforshock,whethertheyshowthesymptomsornot.Thiswillmakethemmorecomfortable.Ifanyofthesurvivorshavebeenseriouslyinjured,youshouldconsideraMEDEVACbyhelicopterorasktohaveanambulanceawaitingyourarrival.Notes:

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A,DebrieftheSurvivorsMakesureyouhaveaccountedforeveryonebeforeleavingthescene.Determineiftherecouldbesomeoneelsemissing.Ifthereissomeonemissing,questionthesurvivorstoseeiftheycangiveyouanyleadstothesearch.Haveamemberofyourcrewtakenotessoyouwillbeabletorecounttheincidentlater.Ifpossiblecollectinformationoncauseofaccidentordistress,age,physicalcondition,experienceofsurvivorsandfatalities,timesofsignificanteventsduringthedistress,andtimesofsightingsofresources.Ifthesurvivorswereinthewaterforanylengthoftime,havethemdescribeindetailtheiremergencyandsurvivalprocedures.ThisinformationmightbehelpfulinlaterSARcases.TheSCmighthavespecificquestionsforthesurvivors.Oncethesurvivorsarecaredfor,thenandonlythencanyoushiftyourattentiontoanypropertyindanger.Again,thereareafewthingsthatyoumustconsiderbeforeacting:

• Areyouindangeroflosingtheproperty?Canthedamageberepairedbythecrew?

• Canthepropertybetowed?Whatisthebestmethodoftowingforthisproperty,alongsideorastern?

• Ifyoudecidetotowthevessel,maintaincommunicationswiththepeopleaboardtheboatthatyouaretowing.Stayinformedoftheirneeds.Theymayhaveneededatowinthebeginning,butafteryoutakethemintow,theymayneedapump.Keeptheoperatorinformedofyourintentions.

Alwayskeepinmindthatpeoplearefarmoreimportantthanproperty.Ifasurvivorneedsmedicalattention,youmustforgetabouttowingandgetthevictimashoreasquicklyandsafelyaspossible.Keepyourstationinformedofyourintentions.Letthemknowwhereyouareandwhereyouwillmoor.Keeptheminformedofanychanges.Afteryouhavebroughtthesurvivorsandthepropertybacksafely,youmightbeaskedbytheSCtoboardtheboatandcompletetheproceduresprescribedbyyourstationorsector.Makesureyouretrieveallthegearthatyoumayhaveloanedtheoperator.Whenalltheseactionshavebeencompleted,theSMCmayconsiderthecaseclosed.Notes:

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B.HandlingPrivatePropertyPrivatepropertywhichbecomesthepossessionoftheSARsystemshouldbesafeguarded,inventoried,thenreturnedtoitsrightfulowner,andareceiptobtained.Trespassingisanentrywithoutrightontolandorpropertythatbelongstoanother.TrespassingbySARpersonnelisexcusedorjustifiedifitisnecessarytosavelifeorproperty.Ofcourse,permissionshouldbesoughtifpossible.c.TowingchecklistWhentowinganyvessel,ensure:

• Everyoneiswearingalifejacket• Youpassalltowlines• Youtendalltowlines• Youhaveasharpknifeready• Youtowalongsideforonlyshortdistancesandincalmwaters• Youadjustthetowsothatitridesthesecondorthirdwaveaftofthetowing

vessel’swake.Heavyboatswillrequirelongertowlines.• Youusechafinggearonthetowline• Youoccasionallyletoutafewfeetoftowlineonextendedtowstoreduce

chaffinginonespotofthetowlineifusingthetaffrailortowbitt• Youuseheavinglines,ifwarranted• Youavoidsuddenburstsofspeed• Youslowdowngradually,especiallyonheavytows• Youavoidplacingyourvesselinapositionwherethewindorcurrentwill

causeyoutodriftoverthetowline• Youavoidpassinglinestovesselswithtoomuchwayon• Youadvisetheoperatorofyourplansorproceduresbeforeacting• Yourememberhastemakeswaste.Thinkoutyourmovespriortoexecuting

themNotes:

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SmallBoatCapacities

Boat SpeedRPMs FuelUsed Range

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Search and Rescue – A Guide for Boat Coxswains Update May 2020

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