OBS Online Boating Emergency Procedures & Rescue Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passenger falls overboard in cold water. What is the FIRST action you should take?
- Throw a life ring or throwable PFD toward the victim (Correct answer)
- Jump in the water to assist them
- Radio the Coast Guard immediately
- Reduce speed and turn sharply away from the victim
Correct answer: Throw a life ring or throwable PFD toward the victim
Throwing a flotation device to the victim is the safest first step while keeping them in sight.
Question 2: Which signal indicates a vessel is in distress during daylight hours?
- Waving a white flag
- Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering outstretched arms (Correct answer)
- Blowing one long horn blast
- Displaying an orange smoke signal
Correct answer: Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering outstretched arms
Slowly raising and lowering outstretched arms is the internationally recognized visual distress signal for daytime use.
Question 3: When executing a Williamson Turn to return to a man-overboard position, what is the correct maneuver?
- Turn hard to one side until heading 180 degrees from the original course (Correct answer)
- Make a sharp U-turn at full speed
- Circle the victim three times before approaching
- Reverse engines and back toward the victim
Correct answer: Turn hard to one side until heading 180 degrees from the original course
The Williamson Turn involves a hard turn to one side then counter-turning to reverse course 180 degrees, bringing the vessel back on its original track.
Question 4: What does the acronym HELP stand for in cold water survival?
- Hold Extremities, Lie flat, Position carefully
- Heat Escape Lessening Posture (Correct answer)
- Horizontal Extended Limb Positioning
- Hold Every Limb Protectively
Correct answer: Heat Escape Lessening Posture
HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Posture) involves drawing knees to the chest to reduce heat loss while wearing a PFD.
Question 5: When should you activate an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)?
- Whenever you are more than 3 miles offshore
- Only when the Coast Guard instructs you to
- When your vessel is in grave and imminent danger (Correct answer)
- When you lose radio communications with shore
Correct answer: When your vessel is in grave and imminent danger
EPIRBs should be activated only during a genuine life-threatening emergency, as false activations waste rescue resources.
Question 6: A boat is taking on water rapidly. After calling for help, what should you do next?
- Immediately abandon ship
- Try to find and plug the source of the leak (Correct answer)
- Turn off all electronics to prevent short circuits
- Increase speed to reach shore faster
Correct answer: Try to find and plug the source of the leak
Attempting to locate and stop the leak buys time and may prevent the need to abandon ship entirely.
Question 7: Which VHF radio channel is designated for distress, safety, and calling in the US?
- Channel 22A
- Channel 16 (Correct answer)
- Channel 68
- Channel 9
Correct answer: Channel 16
VHF Channel 16 is the international distress and calling channel monitored by the Coast Guard and most vessels.
