Maritime Safety and Survival Equipment

A billion dollar satellite SAFETY NET circles overhead 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To take advantage of this awesome network all you need to purchase is a Coke-can-size waterproof EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) unit. In a life and death situation, simply pull the cord on the EPIRB. The unit talks to the satellite. Your name and location are sent to the Missions Control Center of your choice. The operator checks your registration information and calls whomever you indicated. In minutes, your administrator is notified and the rescue operation is under way.
	The JAARS Maritime Services Department assists in this Satellite First Alert System and Emergency Rescue System. It also oversees water safety training, water safety equipment and maritime vessels.

To increase morale and reduce stress for those traveling by sea, JAARS recommends life-saving water safety equipment consisting of:

The Satellite First Alert Kit: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
Emergency Rescue Kit: a pocket GPS and waterproof marine radio.
Water Safety Kit for adults and children: life jacket, strobe light, land/shark bag, signaling mirror, nylon rope, whistle, air horn, Leatherman/mini tool kit and a See/rescue ID streamer). See definitions below.
Personal Preference items: flares and lightsticks, water maker, fishing kit or first aid kit in a waist pack, back pack or “abandon ship” bag.

For more information:

Beyond issues, “At Risk On The Sea” and “Making the Best of It.”
JAARS Press Release, “How the High-Flying JAARS Organization is now Providing Life-Saving Water Safety Equipment for Bible Translators.”

Equipment Descriptions

Life Jacket
The recommended life jacket for adults and older teens is the SOSpender, a slim line durable comfortable CO2-activated life jacket. Children are presently using the solid jacket type by Sterns. Its Type I jacket for open sea is so uncomfortable, children often refuse to wear them and in an emergency, the result can be life threatening. The Type II, which is more comfortable, does not hold the head quite as high out of the water as desired, but it is worn and hence saves lives.

The First Alert Kit:
The EPIRB (Emergency Personal Indicator Radio Beacon) is waterproof, comes with a lanyard, floats and is rugged. The unit transmits a 5-watt coded signal to the satellite system on 406 MHz. It also transmits a ¼ watt signal to a search aircraft or boat on 121.5 MHz, the aircraft emergency frequency.

We recommend the EPIRB 406 MHz because of the lower cost. Coupled with the Emergency Rescue Kit, its search pattern covers (a very desirable) narrow, 100-foot diameter area plus it has the ability to talk to the rescue team.
The GPIRB 406 MHz has a built-in GPS. It is faster, requires a smaller search pattern, but is more expensive.
The PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) has all the features of the GPIRB, plus it is smaller, costs less, and is available for private citizens.

The RL-2 Strobe Light has a C battery that allows the unit to be on for a much longer period of time. It can be seen for a longer distance and it is not an all-purpose light, so it is reserved only for emergencies. Recommended for adults and children.

The Land/Shark Bag prevents hypothermia and gives shark-attack protection. The sharks are excited by sight sound, smell and motion. The bag zips on over your life jacket. It is made from a space blanket-type material and holds in body odors, reduces motion and makes the individual resemble a log. Recommended equipment for adults and children.

The SEE Streamer is a floating 40-foot orange plastic identification device that makes the individual more visible. The streamers come in 3 widths. We recommend one streamer for each adult and child.

Rope is used, in the event of an accident, to tie oneself on to what remains of a boat or plane that is still afloat. Energy is wasted trying to hang on to a wreck. And it is easier to be spotted if one is near a large floating object. Also, rope is handy to keep the family together. Each person receives a 50-foot length of rope that floats.

The signaling mirror is a very effective tool for attracting attention from passing planes and boats. It requires skill to use; therefore, only adults and teens receive mirrors. The metal model travels well.

The air horn is for signaling over noise. One horn is assigned to each adult. The whistle is for communicating in noisy seas and with the group.

The miniature tool kit put out by Leatherman is for adults.

Emergency Rescue Kits are recommended for those traveling by water and/or land with search and rescue (SAR) services.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) provides your exact location, direction of travel, estimated time of arrival, map of travel to date, stopover points, etc. This is vital information to be relayed to the rescue team. The GPS receives signals from three or more satellites comparing time and space information to calculate location. The unit is the size of a cell phone.
The Marine 5-watt handheld aircraft and/or marine radio is used to communicate with the SAR team and/or passing planes or ships at sea. It is the size of a cell phone and covers the international emergency frequencies. It is rugged and waterproof.

For specific product information see: http://www.acrelectronics.com/