Downloand the NSRI App
The NSRI advises boaters to have responsible family members monitor your trip using SafeTrx and to carry safety equipment.
The RSA SafeTrx app monitors your boat journey and automatically alerts emergency contacts should you fail to return on time.
RSA SafeTrx is a smartphone app for both Android and Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) that allows you to plan your journey on your smartphone.
The application is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
RSA SafeTrx includes a number of new features for small craft users:
- An emergency call button which allows you to quickly make a distress call from the application
- Share your real-time track with family and friends during your trip
- Build and maintain your own safety pre-launch checklist
- Choose an alert individual emergency contact for each trip
- Automatically initiates a search process should you not close your trip before your chosen ETA
Directly from your smartphone you can enter your journey details and set off, knowing that at the push of a button you can call for help, and should you not return by the time given, your emergency contact will be alerted and advised to initiate appropriate action.
Where an emergency contact calls the NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) – 087 094 9774 – concerning your being late, they will have access to your location and SafeTrx Trip data through a secure SafeTrx server. Since the RSA SafeTrx app periodically sends your location data back to the NSRI servers, the NSRI’s response team can get help directly to you, and quickly.
The NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) monitor NSRI RSA SafeTrx.
Boaters, paddlers and sailors should wear bright, neon clothing when they launch on to water.
Have your details stencilled on your craft: name, contact telephone numbers for yourself and a responsible family member.
Boaters, paddlers and sailors should wear appropriate gear for the water temperature and weather conditions forecast by SAWS (SA Weather Service), monitor SAWS weather forecasts, and wear a properly fitting lifejacket (children should be fitted with child lifejackets).
Carry red distress flares and know how to use them.
Carry your smartphone in a watertight plastic sleeve.
Wear a referee whistle around your neck. Stick reflective 3M tape on your craft. Make sure your craft is in a serviceable and working condition.
Make sure your cellphone is properly charged and you have a VHF marine radio with batteries fully charged.
Prepare and brief everyone involved in an emergency before you launch on to water.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News