HELP TAKE THE SEARCH OUT OF SEARCH AND RESCUE!

PUT SAFETY FIRST! 

Use Your VHF Radio

(This information was taken from a document produced under a grant from the Aquatic Resources (Wallop/Breaux) Trust Fund. Administered by the U.S. Coast Guard / National Boating Federation / P.O. Box 4111 Annapolis, MD 21403  Some modifications have been made to meet conditions for Great Salt Lake

WHEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE, CELL PHONES MAY NOT WORK!

The use of a cell phone from a boat has many disadvantages including:

• Area geography may limit or block a cell phone signal, making the cell phone unusable (cell phone coverage on the Great Salt Lake is very poor and varies upon cell phone companies)
• Caller's location cannot be determined using radio direction finders
• 911 calls from maritme locations are frequently misdirected to police or fire departments, which may delay any water rescue response
• A cellular call cannot be monitored by other boaters
• It may not be possible for the caller to be contacted by the rescue boat or aircraft.

WHEN YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, USE CHANNEL 16

• Have all persons put on life jackets!
• Transmit "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY THIS IS (BOAT NAME), (BOAT NAME), (BOAT NAME)"
• Report your location (Latitude and longitute if known, or "We are 3 miles west of Indian Bay"), or last seen reference point (buoy, landmark, etc).
• Report the nature of your emergency (boat flooding, on fire, on the rocks, etc).
• Report the number of people aboard including yourself.

Wait for a response for 10 seconds, and if there is none, repeat the message.

• Be prepared to give the following information:
• Describe the boat and its seaworthiness ("Boat is a 30 foot white sailboat with a blue canopy.  Engine has stopped due to flooding and the boat is in danger of sinking").
• Condition of any injured persons.
• What assistance is needed ("Need to have children removed from the boat and we need a pump and tow").

WHEN A CELL PHONE IS YOUR ONLY MEANS OF MAKING DISTRESS CALLS

Take the following precations before leaving the dock:

• Make sure the battery is fully charged
• Keep the cell phone in a waterproof bag that floats
• Have the U.S. Coast Guard and other appropriate water rescue phone numbers with you (GSL State Marina 801-250-1898 / GSL Harbor Master 801-209-9142 / 911)  Have them highly visible.  It is useful to tape the numbers to the phone
• When you first place the distress call, immediately give your:

1. Cell phone number
2. Vessel name and/or description
3. Position and/or location
4. Nature of the emergency
5. Number of people on board
6. Repeat the cell phne number before ending the call.

• Speak slowly so you can be clearly understood

VHF CHANNELS & THEIR USES

FOR SAFETY'S SAKE, USE THEM PROPERLY!

WHEN USING VHF

• Use the lower power setting (1 watt) except during emergencies.
• Keep radio traffic to a minimum
• Do not chatter on 16. After making initial contact, move to a working channel.
• Great Salt Lake State Marina and Antelope Island State Park monitor VHF channel 16