Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
14 24
- Pyrotechnics : These are signals such as rockets, flares, and
smoke. Instructions for operating various brands of pyrotechnics are written
by the manufacturers. Once you are settled in your survival craft, read the
instructions on each type of pyrotechnic so you will know how to use them
when a ship or aircraft is spotted. Keep the pyrotechnics close by for
immediate use, so you can signal when necessary. Heed the following when
using pyrotechnics:
- Be sure to fire the signals downwind on the lee side of
the survival craft. When firing, hold them at a slight angle over the water.
Pyrotechnics have burning particles that might fall, which may burn you or
damage the raft.
- Only use smoke signals during the daytime. Smoke does
not glow in the dark. Only use pyrotechnics when you can see a ship or plane.
Do not waste smoke signals.
- Rockets should be used when a vessel is spotted far
away on the horizon. A rocket will get the signal higher, where it can be seen
from a greater distance.
- An aircraft directly overhead would be more likely to spot
a hand flare than a flare covered with a parachute.
Red Star
Shells
Fog Horn
Continuous
Soundings
Flames on
A Vessel
Gun Fired at
Intervals of
One Minute
Orange
Background
Black Ball &
Square
SOS "Mayday"
by Radio
Parachute
Red Flare