User's Manual

15
7 FALSE ALARMS
False alarms are a serious problem for the rescue services. About 90% of EPIRB
initiated distress alerts turn out to be false alarms. If your EPIRB should cause a false
alarm, follow the instructions below.
7.1 Stand down rescue services
It is most important that you contact the nearest search and rescue authorities and tell
them it was a false alarm, so that they can stand down any rescue services. Use any
means at your disposal to make contact. Often this can be by VHF radio to the local
coastguard or mobile phone if you are within coastal range, but MF/HF DSC and
Inmarsat A, B, C,M may also be used. Useful contacts are:
Country Region Telephone What to report
Atlantic / Gulf of Mexico [phone]
Pacific [phone]
USA
From any location [phone]
UK From any location 01326 317 575
EPIRB Unique ID (UIN)
Date, time & duration
Cause of activation
Location when activated
7.2 De-activate the EPIRB
If the G4 was activated by mistake, then de-activation is simple:
• Remove the G4 from any water and dry its sea switch contacts.
• Wait about 8 seconds for the sea switch to de-activate.
• If the G4 is still flashing then it must have been turned on manually…
• Slide the switch cover fully to the right.
• Press
and release
the READY button.
• The G4 should now stop flashing.
• Refit the G4 correctly into its mounting bracket or enclosure.
Modern EPIRBs have sea switches and it is not uncommon for the sea switch to
activate in rough seas or heavy rain simply because the EPIRB has been badly fitted in
its mounting bracket. The G4 bracket has a hidden magnet to hold the G4 in an off
state. If the G4 is wrongly fitted the magnet does not do its job and heavy seas may
activate the sea switch. The simple cure is to ensure the G4 is correctly fitted as shown
in sections 6.8 or 6.8.2.