WEBVTT 00:00.070 --> 00:02.126 So the most reliable way to report a 00:02.126 --> 00:04.292 maritime distress would be utilizing a 00:04.292 --> 00:06.348 VHF radio on channel 16 . That's the 00:06.348 --> 00:08.292 international hailing and distress 00:08.292 --> 00:10.570 frequency . If you have a GPS position , 00:10.570 --> 00:12.514 that helps us out even more . Just 00:12.514 --> 00:14.681 giving a good location of where you're 00:14.681 --> 00:16.848 at cell phones can be used . However , 00:16.848 --> 00:16.329 just being offshore , there is a 00:16.340 --> 00:18.507 potential that you may or may not have 00:18.507 --> 00:20.729 signal with that . The other benefit to 00:20.729 --> 00:23.030 using a VHF radio on channel 16 is that 00:23.040 --> 00:25.262 that is being broadcast out to everyone 00:25.262 --> 00:27.207 else on the water . Whether that's 00:27.207 --> 00:29.318 other folks , a good Samaritans first 00:29.318 --> 00:31.262 responders , uh commercial salvage 00:31.262 --> 00:33.207 providers or the commercial towing 00:33.207 --> 00:35.429 providers . Uh Everyone's going to hear 00:35.429 --> 00:37.651 that at the same time . So there may be 00:37.651 --> 00:39.651 somebody that's closer than a coast 00:39.651 --> 00:41.929 guard unit that can provide assistance . 00:41.929 --> 00:44.151 The proper way to conduct a radio check 00:44.151 --> 00:43.810 would be to utilize channel nine . 00:43.819 --> 00:45.875 That's what's been designated by the 00:45.875 --> 00:47.930 FCC for conducting radio checks . Uh 00:47.930 --> 00:50.097 Though I would also recommend that you 00:50.097 --> 00:52.152 check with your local municipalities 00:52.152 --> 00:53.986 just to see if there's any other 00:53.986 --> 00:56.152 channels that have been designated and 00:56.152 --> 00:58.375 ensure you're not using a channel which 00:58.375 --> 01:00.430 is pre designated for commerce or uh 01:00.430 --> 01:02.263 some other function , but mostly 01:02.263 --> 01:04.430 definitely want to stay off of channel 01:04.430 --> 01:06.430 16 as that's been designated as the 01:06.430 --> 01:06.110 international hailing and distress 01:06.120 --> 01:09.059 frequency . So the reason using VHF 01:09.069 --> 01:10.902 channel 16 for things other than 01:10.910 --> 01:13.199 distress , uh the biggest thing would 01:13.209 --> 01:15.300 be that you could be potentially 01:15.309 --> 01:17.365 overstepping somebody else that does 01:17.365 --> 01:19.365 have an emergency and tying up that 01:19.365 --> 01:21.540 frequency . Again , channel 16 is for 01:21.550 --> 01:24.000 hailing and distress only . Uh any 01:24.010 --> 01:26.121 other conversations we'd request that 01:26.121 --> 01:28.343 you take it to a different frequency uh 01:28.343 --> 01:30.288 to include doing any sort of radio 01:30.288 --> 01:32.399 checks , preferably on channel nine . 01:32.399 --> 01:34.288 So some of the harmful impacts of 01:34.288 --> 01:36.510 causing or calling out a false distress 01:36.510 --> 01:38.677 would be that we as the Coast Guard or 01:38.677 --> 01:38.459 one of our partner agencies might 01:38.470 --> 01:40.800 launch some sort of resource to go out 01:40.809 --> 01:42.976 there , which then that puts our crews 01:42.976 --> 01:45.031 in danger , our assets in danger and 01:45.031 --> 01:47.253 could also potentially divert that help 01:47.253 --> 01:49.365 away from somebody who could actually 01:49.365 --> 01:51.587 be in distress , causing us to delay uh 01:51.587 --> 01:53.750 response to that incident itself . Uh 01:53.769 --> 01:55.839 And would recommend if especially if 01:55.849 --> 01:58.010 you have Children um that maybe they 01:58.019 --> 02:00.075 end up playing on the radio , making 02:00.075 --> 02:02.075 out a false distress broadcast . Um 02:02.075 --> 02:04.408 Please , the Coast Guard will reach out . 02:04.408 --> 02:06.186 Uh If we do hear these types of 02:06.186 --> 02:08.408 broadcasts , we do ask that you respond 02:08.408 --> 02:10.463 back just to let us know if it's not 02:10.463 --> 02:12.463 distressed , that allows us to know 02:12.463 --> 02:14.630 that nothing is going on that we don't 02:14.630 --> 02:16.741 need to look into it further and that 02:16.741 --> 02:16.419 there's actually nobody in distress .