False Alarms - mcmurdo E3 Owner's Manual

5. 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...
5.1 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
USA Atlantic / Gulf of Mexico
Pacific
From any location
UK From any location
5.2 De-activate the EPIRB
If the E3 was activated by mistake, then de-activation is simple...
• Remove the E3 from any water and dry its sea switch contacts.
• Wait about 8 seconds for the sea switch to de-activate.
• If the E3 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 E3 should now stop flashing.
• Refit the E3 into its mounting bracket (correctly).
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 E3 bracket has a hidden magnet to hold the E3 in
an off state. If the E3 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 E3 is correctly
fitted as per section 4.8 or 4.9.
5.3 Dealing with a transmitting E3
In the unlikely event that your E3 develops a fault and will not turn off, then prevent
its radio signal from reaching the satellite using one of the following methods...
• Remove the antenna. Wrap the E3 in metal foil and take it below decks.
• Remove the antenna and place the E3 in a metal container or locker.
Leave it in this condition for 3 days until its battery is dead. See section 9.4 for
instructions on returning the E3 for servicing. Also see section 9.7.
Region
(212) 668 7055
(510) 437 3700
(800) 323 7233
01326 317 575
Telephone
EPIRB Unique ID (UIN)
Date, time & duration
Cause of activation
Location when activated
9
What to report