• Release the EPIRB from the bulkhead bracket or enclosure when abandoning the vessel and embark the life raft.
• In cases where you have a manually activated EPIRB, remove "carry safe" collar from the EPIRB.
• Uncoil the lanyard from EPIRB and tie it to the life raft.
• Switch the EPIRB on manually using the activation switch (the way to do this depends on the EPIRB model) or, just throw it in water where it will be activated by the sea switch. The EPIRB is at its most efficient when floating on water.

• The activated EPIRB should give a strobe light warning every few seconds (depends on the EPIRB model).
  
• Ensure that the EPIRB is not obstructed by anything that could prevent radio signal from reaching the satellite.
  

In the event of your vessel sinking and you have mounted an automatically activated EPIRB and you don't have enough time to release the EPIRB from its enclosure, then the EPIRB will activate automatically when the enclosure sinks enough, so that the EPIRB will be released from the enclosure by HRU and the sea switch will come in contact with water. In such a case try to recover the EPIRB and tie it using its lanyard to the life raft.

WARNING

The EPIRB must only be used in an emergency - in situations of grave and imminent danger.

CANCELLING A FALSE ALARM

If an EPIRB is activated by accident, it must NOT be switched off before informing a CRS or MRCC, for example by VHF radio. Only after being instructed to do so by a CRS or MRCC may the EPIRB be switched off. The EPIRB can be switched off following this procedure:

• Remove the EPIRB from any water and dry its sea switch
  contacts.
• If the EPIRB is still flashing then it must have been turned off
  manually with the activation switch.

• If the EPIRB is still flashing then prevent its radio signal from reaching the satellite by cutting off or folding down the antenna and wrapping it in metal foil, a metal container or locker. Otherwise re-fit the EPIRB correctly into its mounting bracket or enclosure.