
It is the thing we all hope we never have to do, but a sensible precaution whenever you go out on the water is to ensure that everyone on board the boat knows how to work the radio, and how to call for help in an emergency. It should form part of your brief to your friends, family or crew every time before you go out on the water, but even then not everyone will remember where the radio is, let alone how to transmit a distress alert and then follow it up with a voice call and message.
One way around this is to put a message card next to the radio so that everyone including the skipper has an instant reminder to help overcome the panic that inevitably arises in all who find themselves in distress. It is a simple but vital piece of kit, and once printed and laminated rarely needs updating. As the procedure for the Mayday voice call has changed slightly, we have produced an updated Distress Procedure Card which is available to download and personalise - Download VHF Radio Procedure card.
Information that is important for the Coastguard and anyone else who is trying to help includes who you are (all of: boat's name, MMSI & Call Sign if possible), where you are, what is wrong, what help you need, how many people are on board, and anything else that is relevant (do you all have lifejackets on etc). This is all rolled up together, in this specific order, to form the distress call and message, and if it can be transmitted correctly will get help to you much faster than if information is being teased from you piece by piece.
Do also think about your safety brief - is it absolutely correct? Many VHF radios require the distress button to be pressed twice; once to bring up the distress menu and then pressed a second time for five seconds to transmit the distress alert. Check the instructions for your radio and ensure that the correct procedure is written down clearly on the procedure card - it may not be enough to say simply 'press and hold the distress button for five seconds' because this may not actually send out your distress alert.
Finally, please don't ever test your distress button! in doing so you are transmitting a false distress - it is the one part of your radio you have to assume works if all other parts are functioning correctly - false distresses waste time & money, can put lives at risk, and can leave an offender with a hefty fine.
In order to use a VHF radio, at least one person on board the boat must hold a marine VHF qualification such as the Short Range Certificate. You are breaking the law if you use a radio without fulfilling this criteria, and the qualification is easily gained by successfully completing a one-day course here or at any other RYA VHF centre. We also however have a lot of people who come through our VHF courses who already have a VHF certificate but wish to refresh and update their skills, and we can also run private refreshers in our classroom or on board your boat if you would like to ensure you are doing things correctly. These can be anything from a half-hour update on distress procedures, to a full run through of how your radio and DSC works.
To discuss any of this, or if you would like more information on any of our courses simply call or email us and we would be delighted to chat things through with you.
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