What is a basic emergency communication procedure you might mention?

• A. Swim to shore and call a friend.
• B. Call the Coast Guard using a cellphone.
• C. Know Mayday calls on VHF Channel 16, provide location, nature of distress, and number of people aboard; then switch to a working channel.
• D. Use a flashlight to signal.

Answer: (C)

In a maritime emergency, the priority is to raise the alarm on the official distress channel and convey essential information quickly. Use Mayday on VHF Channel 16, the primary distress and hailing channel, and state your location, the nature of the distress, and the number of people aboard. Once you’ve established contact, switch to a working channel to continue the conversation and coordinate with responders. This keeps Channel 16 available for genuine emergencies while letting rescuers gather details and communicate clearly. The other options aren’t reliable or appropriate for initiating rescue—cellphones may not work offshore, signaling with a flashlight doesn’t convey location or status, and attempting to swim to shore isn’t a safe or effective emergency communication method.