Emergencies at sea - Nautical Currents boating diving and ocean information

Diving Medical Emergencies

Who to call?
Who should you contact if you have an emergency while boating or diving and require medical assistance? The United States Coast Guard is the first one you should call. The U.S. Coast Guard, and usually the local marine patrol, monitors VHF channel 16. If you don't have a VHF radio, then you can call one of the numbers listed below on your cellular phone.

Coast Guard in Palm Beach county
Emergency - 561-844-5030
Non-Emergency - 561-844-4470

Coast Guard in Broward county
Emergency - 561-844-5030
Non-Emergency - 561-844-4470

Where to go?
If you are proceeding to port on your own, in Palm Beach county, there are four designated emergency medical pick up points. Let the Coast Guard know which one you are heading for and what time you expect to arrive there. This way, they can have assistance ready to meet you when arrive.

The emergency pick up points

In Palm Beach county:
Jupiter Seaport Marina at the Jupiter inlet.
Port of Palm Beach at the Palm Beach inlet.
Boynton Inlet Park at the South Lake Worth inlet.
Silver Palm Park at the Boca Raton inlet.

In Broward county:
Port Everglades at the Port Everglades inlet.

You can always call 911 and let them know where to meet you as well.