What is the first action to take when a vessel capsizes?

The first action to take when a vessel capsizes is to take a head count and ensure that all individuals on board are wearing their life jackets. This is crucial for ensuring everyone’s safety in a potentially dangerous situation. In the chaos following a capsize, it’s important to quickly verify the safety of all passengers. Ensuring that life jackets are worn can significantly increase the chances of survival by keeping individuals afloat and reducing the risk of drowning.

Prioritizing safety by taking a head count also helps to account for everyone and allows for faster action in case emergency services need to be called later. Understanding who is present and who may need assistance is vital in emergencies. Other actions, like looking for lost belongings or assessing the damage of the vessel, can wait until everyone's safety is secured. Immediate attention to life jackets and ensuring that everyone is accounted for lays the groundwork for further actions that may be necessary.