Scout Boats 262 Abaco, Owner'S Manual, Page: 68 / 120

poisoning, motion sickness or flu. High concentrations can be
fatal within minutes. Many cases of carbon monoxide poison-
ing indicate that while victims are aware they are not well, they
become so disoriented they are unable to save themselves by
either exiting the area or calling for help. Also, young children,
elderly persons, and pets may be the first affected.
Drug or alcohol use increases the effect of CO exposure.
Individuals with cardiac or respiratory conditions are very
susceptible to the dangers of carbon monoxide. CO poisoning
is especially dangerous during sleep when victims are unaware
of any side effects. The following are symptoms which may
signal exposure to CO: (1) Headache (2) Tightness of chest or
hyperventilation (3) Flushed face (4) Nausea (5) Drowsiness
(6) Fatigue or Weakness (7) Inattention or confusion (8) Lack
of normal coordination.
Persons who have been exposed to carbon monoxide should
be moved into fresh air immediately. Have the victim breath
deeply and seek immediate medical attention. To learn more
about CO poisoning, contact your local health authorities.
Low levels of carbon monoxide over an extended period of time
can be just as lethal as high doses over a short period. There-
fore, low levels of carbon monoxide can cause the alarm to
sound before the occupants of the boat notice any symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning. CO detectors are very reliable and
rarely sound false alarms. If the alarm sounds, always assume
the hazard is real and move persons who have been exposed to
carbon monoxide into fresh air immediately. Never disable the
CO detector because you think the alarm may be false. Always
contact the detector manufacturer or your local fire department
for assistance in finding and correcting the situation.
Remember, carbon monoxide detectors do not guarantee that
CO poisoning will not occur. Do not use the CO detector as a
replacement for ordinary precautions or periodic inspections
of equipment. Never rely on alarm systems to save your life,
common sense is still prudent and necessary.
Please read the owner’s manual supplied by the CO detector
manufacturer and included with this manual, for operation
instructions and additional information regarding the hazards
of carbon monoxide gas. Refer to the Ventilation chapter for
information on ventilating your boat properly while underway
and other precautions while at anchor or in a slip. This is
especially essential if your boat is equipped with the optional
generator.
Many manufacturers of carbon monoxide detectors offer a
testing and recertification program. We recommend that you
contact the manufacturer of your carbon monoxide detector
and have it tested and recertified periodically.
ACTUATION OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR INDICATES
T H E P R E S E N C E O F C A R B O N M O N OX I D E ( CO )
WHICH CAN BE FATAL. EVACUATE THE CABIN
IMMEDIATELY. DO A HEAD COUNT TO CHECK
THAT ALL PERSONS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR. DO
NOT REENTER THE CABIN UNTIL IT HAS BEEN
A I R E D O U T A N D T H E P R O B L E M F O U N D A N D
CORRECTED.
11.7 First Aid
It is the operator’s responsibility to be familiar with the proper
first-aid procedures and be able to care for minor injuries or
illnesses of your passengers. In an emergency, you could be
far from professional medical assistance. We strongly recom-
mend that you be prepared by receiving training in basic first
aid and CPR. This can be done through classes given by the
Red Cross or your local hospital.
Your boat should also be equipped with at least a simple marine
first-aid kit and a first-aid manual. The marine first-aid kit
should be designed for the marine environment and be well
supplied. It should be accessible and each person on board
should be aware of its location. As supplies are used, replace
them promptly. Some common drugs and antiseptics may loose
their strength or become unstable as they age. Ask a medical
professional about the supplies you should carry and the safe
shelf life of prescription drugs or other medical supplies that
may be in your first-aid kit. Replace questionably old supplies
whether they have been used or not.
In many emergency situations, the Coast Guard can provide
assistance in obtaining medical advice for treatment of seri-
ous injuries or illness. If you are within VHF range of a Coast
Guard Station, make the initial contact on channel 16 and fol-
low their instructions.
11.8 Additional Safety Equipment
Besides meeting the legal requirements, prudent boaters carry
additional safety equipment. This is particularly important if
you operate your boat offshore. You should consider the fol-
lowing items, depending on how you use your boat.
Satellite EPIRBs
EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) oper-
ate as part of a worldwide distress system. When activated,
EPIRBs will send distress code homing beacons that allow
Coast Guard aircraft to identify and find them quickly. The
satellites that receive and relay EPIRB signals are operated
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) in the United States. The EPIRB should be mounted
and registered according to the instructions provided with the
beacon, so that the beacon’s unique distress code can be used
to quickly identify the boat and owner.