Dave Kruger wrote: > Oh, boy. I wish you had more details on this. I did a search on google groups (rec.boat.paddle) and found nothing. However, on reviewing some posts and realizing how far back unlicensed operation was permitted in the US for recreational users, it's likely that the case referenced was _not_ a marine VHF user but rather another band (ham? LMR? not sure). I associate it with marine since I'm fairly certain I read it in a thread on that newsgroup. Anyway, the point at the time was more that it is your responsibility to consider what you are doing before making a mayday call. An invalid mayday, even well intentioned, is not taken lightly by the authorities. Mayday means - imminent threat to life. E.g. unconscious paddler with serious bleeding, anaphylactic shock, heart attack, etc. A conscious paddler with an injury that prevents a return to their point of origin but not in danger otherwise is a pan-pan call, not mayday. Risk is not imminent danger. If it goes on to the point where exposure, starvation, lack of medication or other factors apply, it can shift to a mayday. Use your judgment and if you can contact CG directly with a radio, do that instead of screaming MAYDAY on ch 16. Explain and they can escalate if they see fit. My fuzzy brain cells suggest that the prosecuted user was making a mayday call where a pan-pan should have been made. There was probably a lot more than just the exceptional use of the radio. If you've ever heard The Tonight Show's stupid 911 calls, you'll know that some people consider, say, a dead cellphone battery, a bad movie, not getting proper change for a $1 purchase, etc. an emergency. Alternatively, talk to a triage nurse about how some people find it unfathomable that their sprained pinky is less important than someone with a half-severed limb. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Nov 18 2006 - 18:58:51 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:22 PDT