Grade 10 marine and fisheries technology – Safety and Survival Techniques Quiz

1. What is the safest action to take immediately after a small fishing boat capsizes in calm Kenyan coastal waters?

Stay with the capsized boat and hold on to it if possible
Start swimming to chase and gather floating gear
Swim quickly to the nearest shore without a lifejacket
Try to climb onto the keel and attempt to right the boat alone
Explanation:

Staying with the boat increases visibility to rescuers and provides flotation. The capsized hull or debris is easier to spot than a lone swimmer and conserves energy.

2. Which item should every person on a Kenyan fishing vessel wear when working on deck in open water to reduce the risk of drowning?

A baseball cap
Rubber boots
A properly fastened lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD)
A thick sweater
Explanation:

A lifejacket or PFD keeps the wearer afloat and increases survival time if they fall overboard. It must be properly fastened to be effective.

3. Which is the correct order of actions in a basic man overboard drill on a small fishing canoe?

Turn away from the casualty, change engine speed, ignore the flag
Jump into the water to try to swim to the person immediately
Drive faster past the person to warn others, then stop
Shout and point, throw a floatation aid, turn the boat to return to the person
Explanation:

Shouting and pointing helps everyone know where the casualty is; throwing a float prevents them from sinking; then return to recover them safely.

4. When preparing to abandon a small fishing vessel at night, which signal is best to attract coastal rescuers in Kenyan waters?

Blowing continuously on a plastic bottle
Waving a white cloth slowly
Shouting loudly for a long time
Using a red parachute flare or a red hand flare
Explanation:

Red flares are internationally recognised distress signals visible at night and help rescuers locate you quickly.

5. What is the primary reason you should avoid drinking seawater if you are stranded at sea off the Kenyan coast?

Drinking seawater increases dehydration and worsens survival chances
Seawater will keep you warm and is helpful
Seawater tastes bad and will make you sleepy
It will instantly cure thirst but causes headaches
Explanation:

Seawater's salt content forces the body to use more water to eliminate salt, causing increased dehydration and faster deterioration.

6. Which of the following is the most important survival priority immediately after abandoning a fishing boat?

Searching the sea for fish to catch
Removing all clothing immediately to swim better
Starting to cook food
Keeping warm and preventing heat loss (or overheating) and controlling injuries
Explanation:

Protecting life by managing injuries, staying warm (or cool where needed), and preventing further harm are top survival priorities before secondary needs like food.

7. What is the correct way to wear a lifejacket to ensure it works properly on a small fishing craft?

Wear it under a heavy coat to protect it
Put it on backwards so the label faces out
Fasten all straps and zips so it fits snugly to the body
Wear it loosely over one shoulder for comfort
Explanation:

A snug fit prevents the lifejacket from slipping off in the water and ensures it will keep the wearer's airways clear above the surface.

8. A crew member has severe bleeding from a deep cut while at sea. What should you do first?

Remove all clothing and leave the wound exposed to air
Apply firm direct pressure to the wound and call for help
Give them seawater to drink and wait
Try to stitch the wound using fishing line immediately
Explanation:

Controlling bleeding by applying pressure is the immediate life-saving action. After bleeding is controlled, seek further medical help.

9. Which radio procedure is correct when making a distress call from a VHF radio in Kenyan waters?

Only use the radio if you see another boat nearby
Send a text message and hope someone replies
Switch to any channel and whisper details quietly
Call 'Mayday' on channel 16, give position, nature of distress, and number of people
Explanation:

Use channel 16 for distress, state 'Mayday', then clearly give location, the problem, and how many people are involved so rescuers can respond quickly.

10. What is the main danger of overloading a small fishing boat along the Kenyan coast?

The boat will become faster and harder to stop
It will make fishing nets easier to handle
It increases the risk of capsizing and sinking due to reduced freeboard and stability
It will prevent waves from reaching the deck
Explanation:

Too much weight lowers the boat in the water (reduced freeboard) and reduces stability, making capsizing or swamping much more likely.

11. Which action helps prevent panic and hypothermia if someone falls into the water at night off the Kenyan coast?

Tell them to inflate any available floatation aid and stay as still as possible while conserving energy
Leave them to float alone and start searching elsewhere
Instruct them to swim vigorously toward shore
Remove their lifejacket to keep them warm
Explanation:

Conserving energy and staying afloat with a PFD reduces heat loss and panic, increasing the chance of rescue.

12. What is the safest way to use a handheld flare in windy conditions on a fishing boat?

Point it at people to get their attention
Light it and hold it near the face to check wind direction
Throw it into the sea immediately after lighting
Stand downwind, hold it away from the body and point clear of the boat
Explanation:

Being downwind prevents smoke blowing into faces; holding it away and pointing clear reduces fire risk to people and the vessel.

13. When checking a small boat before leaving a Kenyan landing site, which safety check is most important?

Checking the radio only if weather looks bad
Making sure the boat has a bright paint job
Ensuring there are enough lifejackets for everyone and they are in good condition
Counting the number of fish in the icebox
Explanation:

Lifejackets are essential safety equipment; checking they are available and serviceable must be part of every pre-departure check.

14. How should a crew respond if a small engine fire breaks out on board while at sea?

Try to beat the flames with wet towels while keeping the fuel on
Open the fuel tank to let the fire burn out faster
Pour seawater directly into the engine air intake while the engine runs
Turn off the fuel supply and battery (if possible), use a fire extinguisher, and abandon in an orderly way if fire cannot be controlled
Explanation:

Stopping fuel and power removes the fire source; extinguishers can put out small fires. If it spreads, abandon ship safely.

15. Which signal is best during daytime to indicate distress to aircraft or nearby vessels off the Kenyan coast?

Jumping up and down on the boat
Waving a small dark cloth slowly
Making a large square or X of bright-coloured cloth or using a smoke signal
Turning lights on and off rapidly
Explanation:

A large bright shape or smoke is visible from a distance during the day and is an internationally recognised distress signal.

16. What should you do if someone on board shows signs of heat exhaustion while fishing near the Kenyan coast?

Make them do extra work to distract them
Give them salty seawater to replenish salt
Leave them in the sun to build tolerance
Move them to shade, give small sips of water, and cool them with damp cloths
Explanation:

Heat exhaustion needs cooling and rehydration. Shade, fluids, and evaporative cooling help recovery and prevent progression to heatstroke.

17. Why is maintaining a proper lookout important when navigating near reefs and rocks along the Kenyan coast?

Lookouts are only needed at night
A proper lookout reduces collision or grounding risk by spotting hazards and other boats early
Reefs are good for hiding gear and should be approached closely
It helps to count fish populations for catch estimates
Explanation:

Seeing hazards early allows time to take avoiding action and prevents accidents such as hitting submerged rocks or reefs.

18. What is the main use of a throwable buoyant cushion (lifebuoy) on a small fishing vessel?

As a seat when the boat is crowded
To mark the location of a person in the water and provide them something to hold onto
To use as bait to attract fish
To plug a leaking hole in the hull temporarily
Explanation:

A throwable buoy gives immediate flotation to a person overboard and helps rescuers keep the person visible and safe until recovery.

19. Which practice reduces the risk of falling overboard while working on a small Kenyan fishing boat?

Running along the gunwale when nets are heavy
Wearing loose sandals for comfort
Wearing a lifejacket and maintaining three points of contact when moving on deck
Carrying extra fish on your head to balance weight
Explanation:

A lifejacket provides flotation if a fall occurs. Keeping three points of contact (two hands and one foot or vice versa) improves stability on a moving deck.

20. What is the safest way to approach a person in the water for recovery using a small boat in calm conditions?

Approach slowly from downwind or down-current and stop alongside the person, keeping engine low or off
Approach directly from the front at full speed
Approach from the leeward side to throw them off balance
Circle the person at high speed to create wake for fun
Explanation:

Approaching downwind/down-current allows better control and prevents pushing the boat toward the person; stopping the engine reduces propeller danger.

21. Which action helps prevent oil spills and pollution while doing engine maintenance on a small Kenyan fishing boat?

Using drip trays, collecting used oil in a container and disposing of it at a proper facility
Burning used oil on the deck
Draining oil directly into the sea far from the shore
Washing the engine with large volumes of water while at sea
Explanation:

Collecting and disposing of used oil responsibly prevents marine pollution and is safer for the environment and local livelihoods.

22. If a crew member becomes unconscious but is breathing after a fall on deck, what is the correct immediate action?

Place them in the recovery position and monitor breathing while seeking help
Leave them lying face down to prevent vomit
Give them strong coffee to revive them
Shake them until they wake up quickly
Explanation:

The recovery position keeps the airway open and reduces choking risk. Continuous monitoring and getting help are vital.

23. When is it least safe to attempt to right a capsized dugout or canoe by yourself in open water?

When the water is very cold, waves are high, or you are tired and alone
When the boat is small and close to shore
When calm conditions make it easy
When you have a lifejacket and many helpers around
Explanation:

Under dangerous conditions or fatigue, attempting to right a canoe alone increases risk of drowning; staying with the craft or signalling for help is safer.

24. What is the correct action if you spot thick black smoke from a neighbouring boat while fishing near the Kenyan coast?

Alert the other boat by sound or radio, keep distance, and be ready to assist or call authorities
Throw water on your own deck only
Ignore it and continue fishing
Sail directly into the burning area to take photos
Explanation:

Notifying the vessel and authorities helps coordinate assistance; keeping safe distance avoids danger from fire or explosion while standing ready to help.

25. Which piece of navigation equipment helps you avoid collisions with other vessels at night along busy Kenyan channels?

Properly working navigation lights and a lookout
A handheld torch with a dim light
A coloured flag only
A loud horn without lights
Explanation:

Navigation lights make the boat visible and indicate heading, while a lookout interprets lights and helps avoid collisions.

26. What should you do if someone on board is showing signs of severe cold and shivering after a long immersion in water off the Kenyan coast at night?

Rub their arms vigorously with dry sand
Remove wet clothes, warm them gradually with blankets, give warm (not hot) fluids if conscious
Give them alcohol to warm them up
Force them to do physical exercise immediately
Explanation:

Gradual warming and rehydration help recovery; rapid warming or alcohol can be dangerous. Physical exertion may increase strain on the heart.

27. Which practice improves safety when setting and hauling gear from a small fishing boat in choppy Kenyan waters?

Leaving gear unsecured and shifting it as needed
Standing on the gunwale while hauling heavy nets
Distributing weight evenly, working in teams, and keeping low centre of gravity
Making sudden quick moves to finish faster
Explanation:

Even weight distribution and teamwork reduce the chance of capsizing; staying low improves stability on a moving boat.