What action should be taken if someone is thrown overboard?

When someone is thrown overboard, the most critical action is to immediately stop the boat and retrieve them. This response is essential for several reasons. First, stopping the boat quickly minimizes the risk of further injury to the person in the water and prevents the boat from drifting away from them.

Also, the sooner the person is rescued, the lower the chances are for hypothermia or drowning. By stopping the boat, you can ensure that the person can be reached safely, as moving away from them only increases the distance and complicates retrieval efforts.

While anchoring the boat and calling for emergency assistance may be necessary in certain situations, they should not be the first immediate action taken when someone is in the water. Speeding away presents a significant risk and could lead to further danger for the person in the water and those still on the boat. Hence, the most effective first step is to stop the boat and directly assist the individual who has fallen overboard.