Question 497 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) throw the crew member a life preserver. This is the correct response because the immediate priority when a person falls overboard is to provide flotation to keep them afloat until they can be recovered. Throwing a life preserver or other floating device to the person in the water is the quickest and most effective way to prevent them from drowning in the critical first moments. The other options, while potentially useful, do not directly address the immediate need to keep the person afloat. Positioning the vessel, backing engines, or applying rudder can be important next steps, but the first and most crucial action is to provide flotation to the person in the water. This is a key principle in maritime safety and a standard procedure for person overboard recovery.