What should you do if you see someone fall overboard?

If someone falls overboard, the best course of action is to stop the boat, throw them a flotation device, and instruct someone to keep a watchful eye on their position. This approach is crucial for several reasons.

Firstly, stopping the boat prevents further risk of injury to the person in the water and allows for a controlled rescue. Continuing to drive the boat can create hazards such as additional waves or putting the person in danger of being struck by the boat.

Secondly, throwing a flotation device provides the person in the water with something to grab onto, increasing their chances of staying afloat while help is on the way. Flotation devices are designed to keep individuals buoyant and can assist them in staying calm until they are rescued.

Keeping someone observing the fallen individual is essential for maintaining their location in the water. This ensures that rescuers can act quickly and efficiently, positioning the boat appropriately for retrieval, without losing sight of the person who needs help.

Options that suggest ignoring the incident or circling quickly would pose unnecessary risks and could lead to further complications in the rescue. Going directly to shore might delay assistance and does not accommodate the immediate need for help that the person overboard requires.