Safety procedures
In the event of a maritime accident occurring in port areas, adopt the following safety procedures:
- keep calm;
- make everyone on board wear life jackets;
- get any other security equipment ready for use, including: lifebuoy, first aid kit, distress signal kit (smoke buoy, red hand flares), sound signaling devices (whistle), life raft, etc.;
- check the stability and buoyancy conditions of the boat (degree of heeling, likelihood of sinking);
- in the event of a hull leak, follow established procedures for keeping the boat safe and afloat;
- in case of fire, follow established fire prevention procedures;
- call 1 1 2 and contact the Coast Guard by radio (distress frequency VHF channel 16) providing the requested information, including: name and type of the boat(s) involved, position (geographic coordinates), distance from the coast, type of accident/problem encountered, number of people on board, presence of injured people, people who may have fallen overboard, presence of people in need of special assistance (pregnant women, children, elderly people, disabled people), current weather and sea conditions, route and speed maintained, etc.;
- report any spills/pollution at sea;
- while waiting for help, keep the boat safe, and avoid obstructing/causing danger to maritime traffic in the port areas;
- follow rescuers’ instructions.
