Sea SurvivalSea survival means more than beating motion sickness. Everytime you go out you should be prepared to lose your vessel. If that happens will you know what to do? This page offers general guidelines, but a serious boating enthusiast should prepare for the specific scenarios he might face.
Life jackets and floatingLife jackets are required on all sea faring vessels and for good reason - they keep you afloat. In the event you find yourself in the water without the life jacket, grab on to something that's floating. It is also important to conserve energy and supporting yourself with a buoyant object is far better than treading water. If you have nothing and a quick rescue is unlikely then try to float on your back. Even floating face down and raising your head for air is better than treading. In Boy Scouts I was taught to use my pants as a makeshift life preserver, but I don't normally wear long pants on a boat. If you happen to be wearing pants this is what you do:
In the rare case that there is a fire, quickly swim away from the boat. Swim underwater and avoid going with the current or downwind. Before coming up for air, use your hands to clear a hole. Pop your head up quickly, catch a breath, and go back down until you are out of harm's way. If it looks like your boat may sink, you will also want to swim away very quickly. When the vessel finally slips below the surface it will cause a suction that could drown a person nearby.
If you need to purchase one, make sure it is a digital 406/121.5 MHZ Category I or II. The older analog 121.5/243 MHZ are being phased out and should no longer be sold. Category I indicates that it has an automated feature; it will be more expensive but is well worth it. Category II is manual activation, although some are also water activated. A regular EPIRB can alert search and rescue usually in less than one hour, and give your whereabouts to within about a mile. An EPIRB that has GPS will alert them within a few minutes and place you within a few hundred feet. By registering your EPIRB your personal emergency contact will also be alerted within that time frame.
Drinking water If you are shipwrecked or floating on a raft without a desalinator, you may be able to catch rain or dew. Plastic sheeting works well for this. Keep in mind the collected water will be salty, and the sheeting will need to be periodically cleaned of buildup. Move the water into a container for easier storage and consumption. If you have no access to fresh water at all, sea water can be used to keep you alive. It is not good for your kidneys, so don't drink much. Again, it is dangerous. But if that's your only chance of survival, try one to two quarts a day. Food to eat If you have no food, you can obviously try to catch fish. You will need to be resourceful and utilize whatever supplies you have to create a net, spear, or hook and line. Most fish are edible and can be eaten raw. Remember that people can survive many days without any food at all. Water is far more important. Also, if your water is limited be sure you do not become dehydrated. The body uses water in digestion, especially for proteins. Swimming to land If you can see land, do not swim directly in. Once you come upon the breakers, you should swim parallel to the shore to avoid rip currents. Eventually you will reach the beach. If you have a life raft, do not leave the raft. Paddle (even with your hands) and stay inside the raft. This will conserve energy and protect you better from hypothermia. You may also need the raft later on. Rescue No matter what, stay calm. Panic in the ocean is your greatest threat. Think quickly during the first few minutes to get yourself safe and salvage any survival equipment you may have. Then setup for the long wait on search and rescue. By thinking clearly and maintaining patience you increase your odds for sea survival.
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