The Dangers of Boat Propellers
Boat propellers, while obviously useful, are also dangerous. Moving at speeds that approach that of a blender, small boat propellers can seriously injure human and marine life that has the misfortune to come into contact with them. The propellers of larger vessels, even though they move a much slower speeds, are large enough to cause equally serious injuries or death. Always respect the power of the propeller, whether it's pushing your boat through a lazy day on the lake, or spinning up during maintenance in your driveway.
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Who is Endangered by a Boat Propeller
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The answer may seem obvious at first--people--but the answer extends well beyond the human world to include any fish or aquatic mammal and occasionally, sea birds.
Probably the best-known aquatic species to sustain propeller injuries is the manatee. Living in and around mangrove swamps, the scars on the backs of manatees are the result of painful encounters with the propellers on recreational vessels, equipped with both inboard and outboard motors.
Other victims include cetaceans--whales and dolphins--and seals. Usually, propeller injuries to cetaceans are the result of encounters with large vessels. Dolphins take propeller "strikes" from fishing vessels; if they survive the encounter, the scars may appear as a small notch on fins or flukes (the tail fin) or as a larger scar. Larger cetaceans, like whales, often rub against the bottom of ships and may show evidence of a propeller strike in the form of diagonal scarring on both the belly and back. Smaller marine mammals, like seals, may be killed outright.
What a Boat Propeller Can Do
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Recreational vessel propellers may turn as fast as 700 revolutions per minute and can cut like the blade of a blender. Propellers on larger vessels, like ships, turn more slowly, but have more mass. Injuries may range from superficial cuts to crushing injuries.
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How to Prevent Propeller Injuries in an Emergency
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Three common emergencies that may result in propeller-related injuries. One is during small boat maintenance, when engines may be started out of the water. The second is during a Man Overboard emergency. The third is during search and rescue operations where people are in the water.
During small boat engine maintenance, "quarantine" the area around the engine, particularly if the engine is running. This minimizes the number of people exposed to the danger. Also, before an engine or motor is started, all persons in the area should be advised that a motor will be starting and told to clear away from the prop.
The standard procedure for Man Overboard calls for the person observing someone fall over the side to notify the operator, which side the person fell over. If a person falls over the port (left) side of the boat, the boat is immediately turned to the left, so that the stern (the back of the boat) moves away from the person in the water.
In rescue operations, propeller injuries are avoided by having the crew of the rescuing vessel stand watch on both sides and the at the front (bow) and back (stern) of the boat, to advise the operator when a survivor is near the propeller or may be pushed under the bow.
Helping an Injured Person
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Never assume that a propeller-related injury is minor.
Propeller injuries, whether they occur on land during maintenance or "fitting out" the boat for the boating season or at sea, are treated like any other similar injuries. If ashore, standard first aid practice is followed: call 911, insure an airway, control bleeding and treat for shock. Even a seemingly minor propeller injury should be taken to the local emergency room because of the possibility of injuries that aren't readily visible.
Propeller injuries at sea must be seen by a doctor as soon as possible because of the increased potential for infection and the possibility of major injuries that aren't readily visible.
Reporting Propeller-Injured Marine Life
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If you have an encounter with marine life that results in an injury by propeller, contact the U. S. Coast Guard, either by cell phone or your VHF marine radio. The Coast Guard monitors VHF Channel 16. Provide the location of the encounter and other information requested. The Coast Guard will notify the appropriate organization to render assistance.
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