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I found this article in a newsletter from JAARS (Jungle Aviation And Radio Service), a support ministry for adventure-bound bible translators.  The article is found on page 9 of their latest newsletter. I highlighted points pertinent to boat & water safety.

Complete newsletter:  http://www.jaars.org/publications/Rev7/pdf/Rev7V3N4.pdf

Bible translators, including expatriates and local teams, who travel over water face risk in getting to their places of work, in promoting literacy in neighboring islands, and in attending workshops far away.  Water travel can be treacherous.  Weather may change suddenly and hinder progress. Tsunamis and sharks
threaten. In a crisis there are often no “saviors” on such seas: no nearby coast guard, no search and rescue teams, and possibly no local navy available to help. Planes might not normally fly in the area and the chances of other boats passing may be negligible.  This is why JAARS Maritime Services trains translators and their families on how to travel safely over water. Each person is also provided with “survival packets” for use in emergencies. With this training and equipment, teams in crisis situations can respond without panic and enhance their chances of survival. 

In case of shipwreck, the most essential items are a life jacket for each person, an EPIRB, and a rope to hold all members of the group and their equipment together. An EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) can send a signal that will relay detailed search and rescue information. The “mayday” signal is picked up in the U.S. via satellite and relayed to a local supervisor for that area of the world, who will initiate a search and rescue. The signal gives the exact location of the sender and continues to report any change in location. 

A similar unit, a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon), can also send out a signal. Its GPS (Global Positioning System) capability can pinpoint the person(s) to an area the size of a football field. So far, the need to employ one of these units has not occurred. A few years ago, however, one unit did go off—from the bottom of a stack of boxes inside a steel-built warehouse in Papua New Guinea. A malfunction, it nevertheless proved the effectiveness of these units, setting off an around-theworld alert process that worked. 

The survival packet contains other signaling devices, such as a long, highly visible streamer to be deployed in the water, signal mirror, air horn, whistle, strobe light, and communication radios with maritime and aviation frequencies. There’s also a “shark bag,” which gives protection from sharks and also prevents hypothermia.

Because locally-run boats are often overloaded and ill-equipped, and most passengers have no life jackets, the packet also contains plastic garbage bags and balloons that translators can share with fellow travelers. Two balloons inflated and placed in a bag can save a person from drowning. If an accident occurs, these makeshift life preservers can prevent a general panic where other passengers might cling to those who do have life jackets, thus taking everyone down.

These days, Search might be down to an exact science, but in some parts of the world timely Rescue is rare. With God’s wisdom, provision, and protection,
we trust no one will ever have to make a “mayday” call.

Richard Rutter
Richard is Assistant Director of JAARS Maritime Services
JAARS newsletter Rev. 7/Fall 2008

I'm not worried about the Lorna Jan sinking.  I'm thinking ahead to the moment when you all decide to throw Token Chick overboard.  I will need all the beacons, ropes, balloons and designer shark bags I can get.

That's right.  It's coming back to me. 

So that cuts our odds in half but doubles you all's.