Search and Rescue

Recently, the Neuse Sailing Association (NSA) of Oriental, NC arranged for a demonstration of Man Overboard (MOB) procedures by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marines. The event was part of the NSA's effort to promote safe boating and boating education.

The site of the demonstration was Oriental, NC. The Coast Guard was on scene with a search and rescue vessel on the water. The Marine Corps was in the air with their search and rescue helicopter "Pedro." In North Carolina, the U.S. Marines routinely work in concert with the Coast Guard by providing airborne assistance to mariners.

Simulations of air and vessel recoveries of a person overboard were conducted. Also in the mix were evolutions between the Coast Guard vessel and Marine Corps Helicopter involving the use of a life sling and a stretcher. It was an impressive display of highly skilled maneuvers on the water and in the air.

For those of you that have never had an opportunity to observe such a demonstration, I suggest that you do not miss the next one. There is much to be learned from familiarizing yourself with such procedures before you need to use them. It is a much more difficult challenge when you are forced to learn those procedures during a real emergency.

In addition to what was learned from the demonstration, there is value in what was learned from observing the spectators. As you might imagine, nearby vessel traffic was drawn toward the Coast Guard vessel and Marine Corps helicopter during the activity. In fact, some of the "on-the-water" spectators were dangerously close.

There are a few reasons why the nearby vessels should have kept their distance:

1). When a search and rescue team is working, one of the things that they must also do is observe other nearby vessels to avoid their mission from involving such vessels in a mishap. The closer that other vessels get to the scene, the more the rescue team on the water and in the air have to focus on the spectators, thereby creating a distraction from their primary mission.

2). During a helicopter rescue, all loose gear on your vessel must be stowed or secured in order to prevent it from becoming a "flying object." Remember that the force of the air below the helicopter is enough to keep an aircraft in the air. It is also enough force to propel anything loose on your deck into your eye, your head, etc. The spectators are fortunate that something like that did not happen.

3). There is an extremely high noise level below a helicopter. If the rescue team needs to communicate with you on your VHF radio, informing you that you are a spectator that is creating a problem, you will not hear them. You may also not realize that they want you to move back. Again, you will have become an unnecessary distraction during what is a dangerous operation.

Whenever you have heavy moving objects in close proximity on the water and in the air, there is a risk of loss of life. Please don't "crowd" anyone conducting a rescue operation. If you do, you might just become the party needing to be rescued!

Until next time, I wish you clear skies, fair winds, and calm seas!