Persona al agua: qué hacer

Última verificación: 14 de octubre de 2026

Paso a paso

1. Grita y señala

   Grita «¡Hombre al agua!» para que todos a bordo lo sepan. Dale a una persona la única tarea de señalar a quien está en el agua sin apartar nunca la vista.[1][2][3][4]

2. Lanza algo que flote

   Lanza un aro salvavidas, un cabo de lanzamiento o un chaleco salvavidas lo más cerca posible de la persona. Le ayuda a mantenerse a flote y marca dónde está.[5][6]

3. Pulsa MOB

   Pulsa el botón MOB del plóter o del GPS para marcar la posición en la que cayó.[5]

4. Lanza un MAYDAY

   Mantén pulsado el botón de socorro DSC y después haz una llamada MAYDAY por el canal 16 de VHF. Di que hay una persona al agua, da tu posición y cuántas personas hay a bordo.[7][8][9][10]

5. Reduce y da la vuelta

   Reduce la velocidad, para si puedes y da la vuelta en cuanto sea posible. No dejes de mirar a la persona en ningún momento.[11][12][13]

6. Elige cómo volver

   Transport Canada describe dos maniobras para barcos de motor: la curva de Anderson (giro simple), la más rápida, para aguas tranquilas y buena visibilidad; y la curva de Williamson, para cuando has reaccionado tarde o hay mala visibilidad. Ve despacio y mantén la hélice muy lejos de la persona.[14][15][16]

7. Ponte a su costado en punto muerto

   Detente al costado de la persona con el motor en punto muerto. Transport Canada aconseja situar el barco a barlovento de ella y recuperarla por la banda de barlovento.[17][18]

8. Súbela a bordo

   Acércala al barco con un cabo flotante o un aro salvavidas atado al barco. Usa una escalera o una eslinga de izado para sacarla. No te metas en el agua a por ella.[18][19][20]

9. Abrígala y busca atención médica

   Cualquiera que haya sido sacado de agua fría puede tener hipotermia, que es una urgencia médica. Ponla a resguardo, quítale la ropa mojada y abrígala cubriéndole la cabeza, y avisa al servicio de salvamento.[21][22]

Qué no hacer

• No te tires al agua a por ella. Lanza algo que flote y actúa desde el barco.[20][6]
• No apartes la vista de la persona. Es fácil perder de vista a alguien en el agua.[13]
• No te acerques con la hélice girando. Pon el motor en punto muerto cuando estés a su costado.[12][17]
• No calientes a una víctima de frío con un baño caliente ni con una bolsa de agua caliente, y no le frotes los brazos ni las piernas.[23]

Antes de zarpar

• Antes de zarpar: explica a tu tripulación la maniobra de hombre al agua y cómo pedir ayuda, y elige a un segundo al mando que sepa gobernar el barco y usar la radio.[24]
• Lleva puesto el chaleco salvavidas. Con mal tiempo, piensa en un arnés y una línea de vida sujetos al barco.[25][26]
• Si tu barco tiene cordón de parada de emergencia (hombre al agua), comprueba que funciona antes de salir.[27]
• Planifica cómo volverías a subir a alguien a bordo, por ejemplo con una escalera o una eslinga de izado.[28][19]

Preguntas frecuentes

Fuentes

Las fuentes se citan en su idioma original.

1. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “Shout loudly, to make sure everyone knows that someone’s gone overboard”
2. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (2026-10-14): “Yell “man overboard, man overboard””
3. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (2026-10-14): “Point to casualty, keep pointing”
4. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “assign one person to constantly watch the person in the water”
5. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Throw a flotation aid. Point to the person in the water while maintaining visual contact with them. Mark the position using the MOB button on the chart plotter.”
6. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “Throw a life buoy, line or lifejacket as close as you can to the person, not only to help them stay afloat but also to mark their position”
7. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Send a distress message using the DSC distress alert and voice message. Recover the person from the water.”
8. RNLI (2026-10-14): “If your radio is equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) press and hold the Distress Alert button(s) until the transmission sends. Set the VHF Radio to Channel 16, High Power.”
9. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “A distress/Mayday call is used to indicate that a boat or person is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance - for example, a boat taking on water, a vessel on fire, a person overboard or a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack.”
10. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “Only to be used in the event of grave and imminent danger and assistance is required. Send a distress alert using digital selective calling (DSC), (press and hold the button until the alert is sent).”
11. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “slow down and stop (if possible)”
12. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “Stop the boat and turn back as soon as you’re able. Remember that the prop is always a danger to anyone in the water, so take care as you approach them.”
13. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “Watch the person carefully – it’s easy to lose sight of someone in the water, so don’t take your eyes off them!”
14. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “The Anderson Turn (or single turn) is the fastest method. It brings the boat back to a position it previously passed. It’s a good option to use in calm water with good visibility.”
15. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “The Williamson Turn is used when response is delayed or in poor visibility ( at night, in wavy conditions, etc.). It can be used in most situations.”
16. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “keep the propeller far away from them”
17. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Bring the boat upwind of the person Stop alongside, put the engine in neutral and keep the person well away from the propellers”
18. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “use a heavy line that floats, or a lifebuoy secured to the boat with a line to recover the person. Always bring the person back into the boat on the windward side”
19. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Consider adding lifting slings and riggings to make it easier to remove a person from the water if it’s not part of your required safety equipment.”
20. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (2026-10-14): “Do not enter the water to retrieve the casualty”
21. NHS (2026-10-14): “Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35C (normal body temperature is around 37C). It's a medical emergency that needs to be treated in hospital.”
22. NHS (2026-10-14): “remove any wet clothing, wrap them in a blanket, sleeping bag or dry towel, making sure their head is covered”
23. NHS (2026-10-14): “do not use a hot bath, hot water bottle or heat lamp to warm them up do not rub their arms, legs, feet or hands”
24. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Discuss man overboard procedures and how to call for help. Identify a second in command and ensure they know how to call for help and operate the engine.”
25. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “always wear your Canadian-approved lifejacket or PFD”
26. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “In certain weather, and on some boats, it’s a good idea to wear a quick release safety harness and safety lines secured to your boat.”
27. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check the kill cord is working if fitted.”
28. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Also consider how you or someone else can get back into your boat. Could you get out of the water with no help from others? Could you and your guests lift someone out of the water safely?”
29. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “The 1-10-1 Principle is a simple way to remember the stages of cold-water immersion and how long each one lasts.”
30. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “It can take an hour to go unconscious from hypothermia, even in ice water.”
31. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Wearing your lifejacket during this stage will keep you afloat, with your mouth and nose out of the water, so you can focus on your breathing.”
32. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Take a minute. The initial effects of cold water pass in less than a minute so don’t try to swim straight away.”
33. RNLI (2026-10-14): “The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally.”
34. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If you are wearing a PFD, keep it on.”
35. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Cold Shock: an initial deep and sudden gasp followed by hyperventilation. Cold shock will pass in about one minute.”
36. RNLI (2026-10-14): “When in cold water (anything below 15°C), your body can go into cold water shock.”
37. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “About 94% of Canadian boaters who drown were in water less than 20C.”

Más guías de emergencia

Números de salvamento por país → Cómo hacer una llamada MAYDAY → Tarjeta de emergencia para imprimir →