|
Each year the Coast
Guard responds to thousands of reports of flare sightings, costing
taxpayers millions of dollars in personnel and equipment costs.
To improve the Coast
Guard's ability to respond and increase the chance of rapidly
locating a mariner in distress, a technique known as the "Fist
Method" has been developed to assist in accurately determining
the position of the flare in relation to yourself, the reporting
source. |
|
|
|
THE
FIST METHOD
To estimate the
distance of a flare from your position, the Coast Guard needs to
determine the height of the flare above the horizon. To do
this, hold your arm straight out in front of you and make a closed
fist. Hold the bottom of your fist on the horizon with the
thumb side pointing up. Picture in your mind the flare that
you saw, compare the height of the flare at its peak to your fist.
Was it 1/2 fist? A whole fist? Two fists?
By using this method,
the Coast Guard can estimate how far away the flare is from you.
The Coast Guard will ask you several more questions to narrow down
the position of the flare. |
|
OTHER
QUESTIONS:
What color was the
flare?
How many flares did you
see?
How long between the
flares?
What type of flare was
it?
Meteor/star (falling rapidly)?
Parachute (falling slowly)?
Handheld (burning on surface)?
Where did the flare
appear to come from?
A boat?
A plane?
Below the horizon?
What is your position?
What direction was the
flare from you?
What is the weather?
Can you assist?
What is your name?
What phone number/ frequency can you be contacted on if we need
further information? |
IF YOU
SHOOT A FLARE...
Flares are required
equipment on boats because they could save your life. There
is nothing wrong with shooting a flare if you are in distress or in
need of assistance.
Often a Good Samaritan
will come to assist when a flare is fired. Other boaters may
have seen the flare and called the Coast Guard, so it is important
you let the Coast Guard know via VHF radio or phone that you fired a
flare. This is so the Coast Guard can call off any
rescue forces that could be searching for you. By calling us,
we can keep valuable resources available for mariners in actual
distress.
Do not shoot off
expired flares. The Coast Guard recommends that you dispose of
them at your local fire department or contact your closest Coast
Guard station and ask if they hold flare training/demonstration days
for the public.
|
