Distress Situations

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Hampstead


If you or your vessel is in imminent danger or in a distress 
situation you can use any means possible to attract attention. 
Often visual signals such as flares, smoke, lights and flags or 
audible signals from your horn or whistle will get the attention 
and help you need. Waving both arms up and down continuously is 
a universally recognized distress signal. 

Boaters providing assistance to vessels in distress are protected 
by the “good samaritan” law and must offer assistance if they can 
do so without putting themselves or their vessels in danger. If you 
are unable to attract attention using these procedures and you 
have a VHF radio initiate a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard 
on channel 16.

Boat Smart...Boat Safe...Wear It!

This message was brought to you by...

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 10-9 Hampstead, North 
Carolina

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