Functioning Marine Radio
Crucial When Emergencies Happen
All kinds of
emergencies happen regularly on America�s waterways. With millions of
recreational and commercial boaters in varying degrees of health,
boating skill and equipment shape on our waters, this is to be expected.
When emergencies do
happen, having a functioning marine radio onboard can make the crucial
difference.
On Friday, a Good
Samaritan with a functioning marine radio came to the rescue of a
fisherman who had lost consciousness while fishing on his 28-foot sport
fishing boat 47 miles southeast of Montauk, New York. No one on board
the sport fisherman could call for help because the vessel did not have
a working marine radio.
Fortunately for our
ill fisherman, another vessel in the area had a functioning marine
radio, and was able to summons a Coast Guard air rescue crew from Air
Station Cape Cod,
The boater was airlifted and
taken to Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, R.I., to be evaluated.
Today�s marine radios
are compact, reliable, relatively inexpensive, and with the new Digital
Selective Calling marine radios, built to get emergency help to the
distressed boater with pinpoint location accuracy. In an emergency the
DSC radio will send an automated digital distress alert consisting of
your identification and position (if the radio is connected to a GPS or
Loran unit) to other DSC equipped vessels and rescue facilities.
Rescue 21 is the
Coast Guard system that will provide the mayday
response capability described above. For more details on the Rescue 21
System and its availability in your area visit
www.uscg.mil/rescue21 .
In any case, make
sure your boat has a working marine radio, and that you test it
regularly to make sure it works well. That way, when you need to call
for help, maybe as a Good Samaritan yourself, you will be able to make
connect with those who can help.
The United States Coast Guard
Auxiliary is the uniformed, volunteer Component of Team Coast Guard who
assist the active duty Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except
for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be
found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the
dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols,
vessel safety checks and public education.
The United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress
as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in
1941. Its over 31,000 members donate millions of hours annually in
support of Coast Guard missions
