Having access to a personal survival kit after a fall overboard or capsize of a boat can enhance rescue efforts and make life more bearable in the interim. A survival kit is only useful if it can protect its contents from the water and is small enough fit in a pocket to be carried at all times.
Having an abandon ship kit onboard is meant to supplement a personal survival kit by making larger items available to facilitate a rescue and aid in surviving an incident. It is important to understand that an abandon ship kit may not always be available after an accident and is not a substitute for carrying a personal survival kit.
Features and Guidelines for a Useful Abandon Ship Kit
Contents of the abandon ship kit need to be held within a waterproof container. Good choices can include a five gallon bucket with a tight lid or a small drysack. The kit needs to float and be clearly marked. An ideal location would place the kit in position that would allow it to float free after a sinking. The location of the abandon ship kit should be included in every safety briefing made prior to sailing. Abandon ship kits should be inspected on a regular basis.
Contents of an Abandon Ship Kit
Items placed in the kit should mirror those found in a personal survival kit. There are four broad areas to consider; shelter building materials, emergency signals, personal health items, and fire starting devices.
- Shelter – Materials used to build an emergency shelter can include large plastic bags, heavy gauge plastic sheeting, small nylon line, foil emergency blankets, and a spare knife
- Signals – Abandon ship kits allow enough room to carry more effective emergency signals. Items to consider are a handheld marine VHF radio with a spare battery, Class II EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon), pyrotechnic flares, mirror, whistle, light sticks, day glow surveyor’s tape, and signal flag
- Health Needs – These can include first-aid items, spare contact lenses, pain killers, water treatment tablets or filter, prescription drugs, food and water
- Fire – Under some conditions, starting a fire can be difficult. There are many products on the market that are available to help start a fire; starter sticks or bricks, waterproof matches, magnesium blocks, candles, and butane lighters. Handheld signal flares are excellent fire starters if nothing else will work. Avoid carrying any of these materials on commercial flights
Abandon ship kits are available commercially. Examples may be seen at the Life Raft Survival Equipment (LRSE) Incorporated website. Coastal kits start at around $1,200.
Practice using the contents of the abandon ship kit and train passengers about the kit’s location and use of its contents. The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association points out that “…training is more important than any other factor in determining whether a person will react positively in an emergency.” Start putting an abandon ship kit together today.
Remember to carry a knife or utility tool while onboard a boat!
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