The Most Common Causes of Maritime Emergencies

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If you have to go out on the open water, it is important for you to stay as safe as possible. Unfortunately, there are a lot of threats out there, and you need to remember the power of the water when you go out on the ocean. You must make sure you have the right maritime safety equipment available, and you should have rescue equipment available as well. If you are looking for the best maritime rescue equipment, you should rely on Dacon, but you also need to understand the most common causes of maritime emergencies so you can prevent them from happening.

Bad Weather

One of the most common reasons why an emergency might take place on the water is bad weather. A severe storm can happen at just about anytime, so you need to take a close look at the weather report before you go out there. For example, you might be able to see a hurricane coming several days in advance, so you should track it as it gets closer. Even though you may think you can get out and in before the bad weather arrives, it is always better to be safe than sorry. You might be surprised by what happens to the water if there is a storm in the area.

Poor Training

Another common reason why emergencies take place is poor training. Driving a boat is not the same as driving a car. Anyone who is going to be spending time on the boat needs to have the right training. Take a look at your safety and training procedures from time to time. Make sure you update them to reflect what you do on a daily basis. If you think that you have a crew member who is not properly trained to do his or her job, he or she needs to be removed from the boat until the training is finished. That way, you can reduce the chances of an accident taking place when you are out on the water.

A Lack of Routine Maintenance

Furthermore, emergencies can happen due to a lack of routine maintenance. Boats are important, and you need to make sure you take proper care of them. Just like taking care of a car, a serious issue can arise if you do not take care of your maritime equipment. You do not want this issue to rear its ugly head when you are out on the water. Therefore, make sure you get all routine maintenance completed on time. You may want to have a schedule posted in a conspicuous place so everyone knows when a vessel is going into the shop.

An Improper Medical Release

Finally, there are some situations where an emergency can develop because someone has been given a medical release inappropriately. Or, someone may have a serious medical condition that has not been evaluated by a doctor at all. For example, someone who has a history of seizures must make sure their seizures are controlled before they go out on the water. If they have a seizure on the water, people might not be able to help them. Furthermore, they may place other people in harm’s way. People with medical issues should be allowed to go out on the water after they have been appropriately evaluated and treated by a medical professional.

Prevent Maritime Emergencies from Taking Place

These are just a few of the most common reasons why maritime emergencies might take place. Even though there are some situations where an emergency might be outside of the control of the crew, there are some emergencies that are avoidable. Therefore, it is important for everyone to read the weather report ahead of time, and everyone has to make sure they take care of their equipment. Furthermore, if you have developed a medical issue, you need to make sure that you are cleared by a medical professional before you return to the open water. That way, you can make sure that you do not put yourself or others in a difficult situation. Make sure you do everything you can to prevent an emergency from taking place the next time you go out on the water.