PCOC Boating Test: Person overboard and cold water

All 18 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. Which is a sign that someone may be hypothermic?

   1. Feeling very hot
   2. Rapid, deep breathing and sweating
   3. Slurred speech and confusion
   4. A fast, strong pulse

2. You fall into cold water. What should you focus on during the first minute?

   1. Shouting for help constantly
   2. Keeping your airway clear and slowing your breathing
   3. Removing heavy clothing
   4. Swimming hard for shore now, before your muscles weaken

3. Someone falls overboard. What should you do first?

   1. Sound the alarm and slow down
   2. Speed up to circle back
   3. Jump in after them
   4. Call your insurance company

4. Why should you wear your lifejacket instead of planning to grab it if you fall in?

   1. It inflates only when worn
   2. Cold water makes it very hard to put on
   3. It only works when dry
   4. Wearing it is always the law on every boat

5. About how long does the cold shock stage last?

   1. About 10 minutes
   2. About 10 seconds
   3. About 1 hour
   4. About 1 minute

6. As you come alongside a person in the water, what should you do with the engine?

   1. Put it in neutral
   2. Raise it while running
   3. Put it in reverse
   4. Keep it in forward gear

7. What happens during the roughly 10 minutes of cold incapacitation?

   1. You lose use of arms and legs
   2. Your breathing stops
   3. You lose consciousness
   4. Your body warms back up

8. Why throw something that floats to a person who has fallen overboard?

   1. It helps them float and marks the spot
   2. It slows the boat down
   3. It keeps the boat from drifting
   4. It shows rescuers the current

9. Hypothermia begins when your body temperature drops below what level?

   1. 35°C
   2. 37°C
   3. 30°C
   4. 25°C

10. About what share of Canadian boaters who drown were in water colder than 20°C?

    1. About 50%
    2. About 30%
    3. About 94%
    4. About 75%

11. In a Williamson turn, when do you put the rudder hard over to the opposite side?

    1. After turning 90° off course
    2. After turning 60° off course
    3. As soon as the person falls
    4. After turning 180°

12. Which person-overboard manoeuvre is fastest and best in calm water with good visibility?

    1. Reversing straight back
    2. A figure-eight at full speed
    3. The Anderson (single) turn
    4. The Williamson turn

13. On which side of the boat should you bring a person back aboard?

    1. The leeward side
    2. The windward side
    3. Over the bow only
    4. Over the motor

14. What does the 1-10-1 principle describe?

    1. Fuel planning
    2. Anchor line lengths for different depths
    3. Lifejacket size ranges
    4. The stages of cold-water immersion

15. You are in cold water far from shore wearing a PFD, with no one to join. What should you do?

    1. Tread water vigorously
    2. Take off your boots and jacket
    3. Swim hard to stay warm
    4. Stay still in the H.E.L.P. position

16. During a person-overboard recovery, what job should one person on board be given?

    1. Steering at full speed back toward the person
    2. Radioing the marina for a tow
    3. Watching the person in the water constantly
    4. Pulling up the anchor

17. Can a rope you use as a reboarding device also serve as your dock line?

    1. Yes, if it floats
    2. Yes, if it is at least 15 m long and floats
    3. No, it can't be used for anything else
    4. Yes, on boats under 6 m

18. Three people are in cold water after capsizing. What position helps them keep warm and stay together?

    1. Floating spread out apart
    2. Swimming in a circle
    3. The huddle position
    4. Holding hands at arm's length