Originally Posted By: Doug_Ritter
Originally Posted By: hikermor
My sea kayaking vest always contained three flares and a signal mirror - never had to use them, thank goodness.


I have said this many times, but it bears repeating. Flares SUCK as signaling devices.

Get a PLB or SEND and carry it, carry a good signal mirror, good flashlight (or laser flare) and a good whistle.

Anything less and you are gambling with your life.

Seagoing US Coast Guard members are required to wear all of the below at all times while afloat:

A personal flotation device (PFD) with:
  • Emergency Signaling Mirror
  • Signal Whistle
  • Marine Smoke and Illumination Signal
  • Illumination Signal Kit
  • Distress Signal Light
  • Survival Knife
  • Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

This list is per page 6-20 of the current USCG Boat Crew Seamanship Manual, COMDTINST M16114.5 from the USCG Manuals site which adds:

"CAUTION: A boat coxswain is responsible for ensuring that each boat wears the appropriate PFD for the weather conditions/operations they will be performing. In addition to the PFD, each crewmember must also be outfitted with either a boat crew survival vest, or if wearing a Type V inflatable PFD, the same contents found in the survival vest stored in the PFDs pocket/pouch."

That page has the list above, a diagram of the Boat Crew Survival Vest which carries the gear above in pockets (and tethered to it), and discusses each item on pp 6-20 to 6-30):

The seamanship manual above and the Rescue and Survival Systems Manual COMDTINST M10470.10F
seem like good reading on this topic.

United States Coast Guard Station Miami Beach
has a great site covering the USCG training items for this equipment.

They have PowerPoint Presentations for all Tasks and videos for many tasks.
(The PowerPoint presentations add a lot to the videos, and vice versa.)

Here are some samples:

Don the Type III PFD USCG Boat Crew Member Training Task BCM-02-04 |
PowerPoint
Video at YouTube




Don the Boat Crew Survival Vest USCG Boat Crew Member Training Task BCM-02-13
PowerPoint
Video at YouTube



Identify Boat Crew Survival Vest Equipment USCG Boat Crew Member Training Task BCM-02-08
PowerPoint
Video at YouTube




Use the Emergency Signaling Mirror BCM-02-09
PowerPoint


Demonstrate the Use of the MK-124 Smoke and Illumination Signal BCM-02-10-ANY
PowerPoint
Video at YouTube




BCM-02-11-ANY Demonstrate the Use of the MK-79 Illumination Signal Kit
PowerPoint

BCM-02-12-ANY Operate the SDU-5/E or CG-1 Strobe Light
PowerPoint
_________________________
A signal mirror should backup a radio distress signal, like a 406 MHz PLB (ACR PLB) (Ocean Signal PLB)