Emergency Contact Information

We just completed the application for a MMSI # with the FCC. As part of the application they ask for two people to be our emergency contacts. This got us thinking about what we would want our emergency contacts to do if/when the time actually came that something happened to us and they were contacted. We're thinking we should have an organized list of what we want them to do if this happens. Obviously what they would do depends on the emergency but if we're sending out a distress call it's probably gonna mean there's either a serious injury or a death. There should be specific things they should be asked to do.

I'm curious to know what other folks have done with this. Did you put together instructions for your emergency contacts? If you did, what did you ask them to do?

Tom Ward
IP420-35
"La Vida Dulce"

Tom,
I have also filled out the contact data for the VHF MMSI and the EPIRB but had not given any thought to what I wanted the "contactees" to do. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the reason for the contact is to allow the responders to verify that the alert is real and the data correct. That is, Yes we do have a sail boat and yes it is likely that we are 140 miles off Georgia going north in the Gulf Stream, and this isn't a "crank call" false alert. What I want them to say to the Coast Guard is, "Yes this is real, please go find them......"

On another point, in my limited experience I have seen almost no value in VHF MMSI#. The range is short, most boaters don't know how to use it, the Coast Guard doesn't seem to trust it. I would turn it on as I abandon the boat. AFTER - I had done the MAY DAY call. A MAY DAY seems to get everyone's attention. It is seriously abused, but it does get attention.

Thanks,
George
S/V Delicia

Tom:
We have two contacts that we keep well informed of our passages. If the USCG calls them do to our EPIRB set off, then they know we are there and most likely in trouble. We give them no instructions other than be on call, know were we are, and if the USCG calls, tell them we are out here...
Hayden on anchor off Highborne Cay Exumas

George, Hayden - thanks for your input. Our two contacts are Cheri's brother and my sister. They would be the one's we keep informed when we're headed somewhere new. I'm thinking in the event of a death they should get in touch with the executor of our wills (a lawyer) to get that process going and in the event of an injury to maybe contact other family members and friends. Maybe include the insurance company. We could include contact information for these people and instructions on what to do in the event of this or that.

Or maybe we're just going overboard (so to speak). Cheri's a contract manager so we tend to take things to the nth degree, work out the details of all the details.

Tom Ward
IP420-35
"La Vida Dulce"