Making a Distress Call
Speak slowly -- clearly -- calmly.
Make sure your radio is on.
Press the
16/9-TRI
button to switch to Channel 16
(156.8 MHz). (If the corner of the display does not
show 16, press the
16/9-TRI
button again until it does.)
Press the
PUSH TO TALK
button and say,
“MAYDAY --MAYDAY-- MAYDAY.”
Say,
“THIS IS
{name or call sign of your boat}
.”
Say,
“MAYDAY
{name or call sign of your boat}
.”
Tell where you are (what navigational aids or land-
marks are near, or give your position from a GPS).
State the nature of your distress (e.g. sinking, medical
emergency, man overboard, fire, adrift, etc.).
Give the number of persons aboard and describe the
condition of any injured persons.
Estimate present seaworthiness of your ship (e.g.
how immediate is the danger due to flooding or fire or
proximity to shore).
Briefly describe your ship (length, type, color, hull).
Say,
“I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16.”
End message by saying,
“THIS IS
{name or call sign of your boat}
OVER.”
Release the
PUSH TO TALK
button and listen for a
response.
If you do not get an answer after 30 seconds,
repeat your call, beginning at step 3, above.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
For future reference, write your boat’s name & call sign here:
Uniden MHS550 Radio Owner’s Manual
