Overboard

Falling overboard on a Cruise ship is not as rare as you think and another case just last week after a 32 year old fell overboard in the China Sea and survived after 38 Hours which is just amazing she was rescued by a fishing boat and only had minor injuries, she is understood to have been leaning over the railings to look into the sea and fell in!

Since 2000 270 Cruise and Ferry passengers have fallen overboard, with 2015 been the highest number when 27 people toppled over board. Most common for going over board is drunkenness, suicide or foul play

So what are your chances of survival if you find yourself plunging off the side of a ship? The blunt answer is that the odds are stacked against you, but there are many variables that will determine your fate.

Much depends on how far you fall and the temperature and condition of the sea.

The temperature of the sea is a major key to survival and, not surprisingly, you stand a better chance of being rescued alive if you fall into the tropical Caribbean rather than the chilly waters of the North Sea.

As a rule of thumb, it is estimated that in waters of around 5°C, victims have roughly 60 minutes before hypothermia sets in; at 10°C this doubles to two hours; and at 15°C it extends to six hours.

As the rise in numbers of people going overboard I think Cruise ships should have better alarms to detect someone falling over there should be some sort of motion sensor that should alert crew so they can raise the alarm and the likely of saving more people that go into the water

How can you keep safe when on board?

Passenger safety

. Limit your alcohol intake

 If severe weather kicks up, stay in your room

Don’t put your kids on the railing so they can get a better look,

Don’t pretend you’re in that scene from “Titanic.

As a must attend the safety drills