The only reason for a mayday call is if you run out of bait. But
seriously:

1) You see someone fall off a bridge. Attract others with a flare
first? I
don't think so. Call someone capable of arranging for MAJOR help and
fast,
like the CG. If the victim survived the fall, they have only have a
matter
of minutes to live. While making the call, you haul ass over there,
and tell
the CG that now, you need to free up your hand and get to work.

The coast guard DID send the alert, so they knew, just nobody else.
Since there was no other boat anywhere close until maybe 10-20 minutes
LATER it seems that nobody has heard the call.


2) Wait till the drifting boat crashes into the cliff? What??? No.
Make the
mayday call immediately, then get over there and do something, if
possible.
Unless the CG is right around the corner, they may need 9 of those 10

minutes to arrive.

The question is if you know you can get there before they crash and
just tow them back, do you need to alert the force? Will they come and
say: You idiot, why did you call us?
Also you can just call CG and tell them on channel 16 whats going on.
Mayday would attract others.

Again this is to talk about these things that people that dont kow
EVERYTHING and what to do in EVERY situation learn.

But I think the people who do not know EVERYTHING should much rather
shut up and be embarssed.

Matt

wrote in message
ups.com...



2) Wait till the drifting boat crashes into the cliff? What??? No.
Make the
mayday call immediately, then get over there and do something, if
possible.
Unless the CG is right around the corner, they may need 9 of those 10

minutes to arrive.

The question is if you know you can get there before they crash and
just tow them back, do you need to alert the force? Will they come and
say: You idiot, why did you call us?
Also you can just call CG and tell them on channel 16 whats going on.
Mayday would attract others.

Maybe someone else has a boat that can get there faster, especially through
rough water.

wrote:
Guys,

in the boatless :( wintertime I have lots of time on my hands to
ponder
about theoretical questions like this:

I wonder in what situations should we send a MAYDAY and/or fire a red
parachute flare (not the little flare)?

I know the official lingo: If there is a threat to life or health.

"Mayday" is a distress call indicating that a vessel or person is in
grave or imminent danger (of loss of life or property) and is
requesting immediate assistance. Key qualifiers here are "grave" or
"imminent" and the need for immediate assitance to get out of the
sitiuation.

But lets look at actual examples.

- Please give examples when you DID send a MAYDAY for yourself or
others? And / or fired a red (SOLAS) or one of the required invisible
flares?

I have called for assitance for others, and responded to calls. I have
never made a "Mayday" call as I have never been a position to need to.

- Please give examples where you DID not do such but were wondering
if
you should (have).

- Please MAKE UP examples where you would or would not send mayday or
launch a flare.

Examples:

- I respond to a CG call that someone fell off a bridge (in the
water).
I get there, nobody else is there. Flare to attract others?

No flare. The Coast Guard knows where the problem is - that's how you
found out. Contact the Coast Guard, tell them you are there, tell them
what you observe (For example: "I have not seen a victim, but I am
looking...")

- I see a powerboat drifting under wind and waves into a cliff. I
know
it WILL be nasty but isnt yet. My ETA would be 10 minutes. Wait, til
they crash, then mayday? Wait til they crash, go there, then mayday?

Did the boat signal you indicating they are in distress? If they did,
the correct signal would be "mayday relay" as you are not the one in
distress but you are relaying a distress call. However, if your
relaying the message in good faith for what appears to be bonafide case
of distress, nobody will likely quibble about the term you used.

Given the information in your example, I might call the Coast Guard and
tell them that I see what may be an emergency, but I would not use the
"mayday" distress signal.

If what I saw really appeared to be a problem, I might broadcast an
urgent message with the "pan pan" urgency signal.

It should be noted that it is not appropriate to direct a distress
call. Don't call "Mayday Mayday Mayday," then say "Come in Coast
Guard." A distress call means you want help from anyone that can hear
you if possible.

- From the distance I see that 2 boats collided, but dont kow if
anybody got hurt. Mayday or go there first?

"Pan pan," broadcast what you have seen and indicate you are going
there. Someone may be closer but didn't see it happen and your message
may alert them. After your call, the Coast Guard will likely contact
you and ask for more information or confirm what they copied.

Unless I saw fire, or other obvious signs of imminent danger to the
boats' occupants, I would not use "mayday."

On 12 Jan 2005 12:52:27 -0800, wrote:

Guys,

in the boatless :( wintertime I have lots of time on my hands to ponder
about theoretical questions like this:

I wonder in what situations should we send a MAYDAY and/or fire a red
parachute flare (not the little flare)?

I know the official lingo: If there is a threat to life or health....

But lets look at actual examples.

- Please give examples when you DID send a MAYDAY for yourself or
others? And / or fired a red (SOLAS) or one of the required invisible
flares?

- Please give examples where you DID not do such but were wondering if
you should (have).

- Please MAKE UP examples where you would or would not send mayday or
launch a flare.

Examples:

- I respond to a CG call that someone fell off a bridge (in the water).
I get there, nobody else is there. Flare to attract others?

- I see a powerboat drifting under wind and waves into a cliff. I know
it WILL be nasty but isnt yet. My ETA would be 10 minutes. Wait, til
they crash, then mayday? Wait til they crash, go there, then mayday?

- From the distance I see that 2 boats collided, but dont kow if
anybody got hurt. Mayday or go there first?

Please share your opinion AND personal experience about right/wrong and
good/bad examples.

:) Matt

I issued a Pan-Pan to CG last summer of Boston Harbor.
I was scuba diving with another guy and being new to the sport I was
uncomfortable ( cold and current ) and I called the dive off early.

He went back down alone and was down a hell of a long time ( about 25
minutes.) I thought that was a very long time because I thought he had
the same tank of air. I hadn't noticed that he had switched tanks
while I was getting my gear off.... so... getting very nervous I
decided to put the CG on standby with a Pan-Pan. Luckily the diver
surfaced a few minutes after ( still with plenty of air,) and I called
off the distress call.

Lesson learned...better communication next time.

As for the diving solo...well, thats another story and not too
dangerous in the area that we were in for an experienced diver in my
opinion, but that gets all talked out on rec.scuba.

John C.

:) Matt

I issued a Pan-Pan to CG last summer of Boston Harbor.
I was scuba diving with another guy and being new to the sport I was

Meant to say just outside of Boston Harbor, or off Boston Harbor.