Safety on Board, Emergency Procedures and PPE
The safety management mindset
Safety questions test whether you can identify hazards, select the right equipment and follow a logical response sequence. Know the required inventory for your vessel size: lifebuoys, life jackets, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, bailer or pump, anchor and line, sound signalling device, and navigation lights. Understand inspection intervals and stowage requirements so equipment is accessible, not locked away.
Emergency procedures
Learn the man-overboard sequence: shout and point, throw buoyant equipment, slow and turn, keep visual contact, recover. Know abandon-ship logic, mayday and urgency call formats, and the use of flares versus electronic distress. Understand fire response: raise alarm, stop fuel, close openings, use the correct extinguisher, evacuate if needed. Know how to respond to flooding, collision, grounding and capsize.
PPE
Life jackets must fit and be worn when conditions demand. Understand buoyancy ratings, crotch straps, spray hoods and lights. Know when harnesses, helmets and thermal protection apply.
Traps
- Confusing mayday with pan-pan and securite.
- Choosing the wrong extinguisher class for a fuel fire.
- Forgetting to close vents and fuel valves before fighting an engine fire.
- Assuming a life jacket works without a crotch strap in rough water.
Worked rule of thumb
For any emergency question, answer in order: protect people, alert others, control the hazard, then recover or evacuate. That sequence resolves most scenario questions.