False Alerts; Stand Down Rescue Services; Turn Off The Epirb - mcmurdo SMARTFIND PLUS G5 User Manual

6

FALSE ALERTS

False alerts are a serious problem for the rescue services. About 90% of
EPIRB-initiated distress alerts turn out to be false alerts. If your EPIRB should cause a
false alert, follow the instructions below.
6.1

Stand down rescue services

It is most important that you contact the nearest search and rescue authorities and tell
them it was a false alert, 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:
Country Region
USA Atlantic / Gulf of Mexico
Pacific
From any location
UK From any location
6.2

Turn off the EPIRB

If the EPIRB was activated by mistake, then turn it off:
Remove the EPIRB from any water and dry its sea switch contacts.
•
Wait about 8 seconds for the sea switch to de-activate.
•
If the EPIRB is still flashing then it must have been turned on manually
•
Slide the activation switch fully to the right.
•
The EPIRB should now stop flashing.
•
Refit the EPIRB 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 EPIRB bracket contains a magnet to hold the EPIRB in
an off state. If the EPIRB is wrongly fitted the magnet has no effect, so heavy seas
may activate the sea switch. The cure is to ensure the EPIRB is correctly fitted as
shown in section 5.8.
Telephone
(757) 398-6390
(510) 437 3700
(800) 323 7233
01326 317 575
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What to report
EPIRB Unique ID (UIN)
Vessel name/ID
Date, time & duration
Cause of activation
Location when activated