Close your eyes and imagine this scene; the sun has dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with soft twilight hues.
You’re sitting back and relaxing, listening to the lapping of the ocean and sound of the sails. After a few hours of leisurely sipping drinks on deck, nature calls. With no hesitation, you make your way to the stern, unzip, and… suddenly find yourself teetering dangerously close to an unintended swim.
It might sound amusing at first, but urinating on a boat can actually carry some unexpected and serious risks. So, let’s dive into one of the less glamorous, rarely talked about sides of life on the water, and how to stay safe.
The surprising dangers of relieving yourself overboard
When underway many sailors, particularly men, find themselves opting for the convenience of the boat’s edge over a trip to the head. While this may seem harmless, slippery decks, fatigue, dehydration, and unpredictable waves can quickly turn a routine task into a dangerous situation. Even in calm conditions, accidents happen, and fainting is a more common culprit than you might think.
Enter “Micturition Syncope.” This uncommon but noteworthy condition involves fainting during or immediately after urination, believed to be due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. On land, it might result in an embarrassing stumble. On a boat, it could lead to a life threatening fall overboard.
What is micturition syncope?
Never heard of it before? Don’t worry, many people haven’t, even if they themselves have experienced the effects.
As mentioned, micturition syncope is fainting while or just after urinating. It’s believed to be caused by a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, although for now the exact mechanisms are not fully understood. Mostly it seems to happen when getting up from deep sleep but triggers are believed to include dehydration, fatigue, hunger, urinating slowly without straining, bladder distention, alpha blockers, and even acute medical conditions like a respiratory infection. Looking at these triggers, many line up with the challenges of sailing. Waking up in the night for watches, becoming hungry or dehydrated while focusing on the boat, becoming fatigued during a crossing, or simply holding off on the toilet too long while sailing are all common actions that can make sailors more vulnerable to this uncommon condition.
When micturition syncope hits it leads to a sudden blackout as you faint. If this happens while holding onto a railing with one hand and leaning precariously overboard, the consequences could be dire.
Man overboard
A nightmare scenario aboard any boat, man overboard situations can have fatal consequences. The risk of harm increases if the person has fainted, and is unconscious when they hit the water.
At anchor with people around the situation can be less dire, but if the boat is underway it’s a very different story. Without a well practiced plan, the right conditions and various safety equipment like life vests, tethers, AIS man overboard beacons and lifebuoys, it can be a difficult situation to come back from. Prevention is the best plan, taking steps to help ensure the entire crew stay safely aboard the yacht.
How to stay safe while answering nature’s call
When it comes to urinating there are some practical ways to keep yourself safe.
1. Rise slowly
If you’ve been sitting or lying down for a while, take your time getting up. Give your body a moment to adjust to avoid lightheadedness.
2. Choose a safer position
If you’re on the move, skip the overboard option altogether. Instead, urinate in the cockpit while kneeling for stability, or make use of the onboard head. Sitting down can further minimize the risk of fainting.
3. Use a harness
If leaning overboard is unavoidable, always wear a safety harness and ensure it’s properly secured to prevent accidental falls.
4. Check on each other
Sailing is a team effort. Keep an eye on your fellow crew members, particularly if you know they’re tired, unwell or have had a long day out in the sun. If they’re above while you’re below, check on them periodically to make sure all is still well.
5. Moderate alcohol consumption
A cold beer or cheeky sundowner while underway may be something your captain is okay with, but keep in mind that alcohol dehydrates the body and exacerbates blood pressure drops. As a general rule it’s best to leave the alcoholic drinks for after docking.
Safety first, always
While the topic may elicit a chuckle, the dangers of peeing overboard are no joke. By understanding the risks and taking simple precautions, sailors can avoid unnecessary accidents and enjoy their time on the water safely.
Have you or someone you know experienced an onboard mishap while answering nature’s call or doing something you thought was equally as routine and harmless? Share your story and safety tips down in the comments.
A brilliant article Michaela.
I had never heard of micturition syncope before, something that I’ll bear in mind in future.
I use a pee bottle rather than risk going over the side.
I use this since 5 years without problems and warmly can recommend it.
30 years before I had a miction Synkope …. on land!
Thx for the article, I learnt something: the pee synchope!
As a career Coast Guard helicopter pilot, it surprised me how often we had to go search for people who fell overboard while peeing. I never understood it, but the article finally makes sense of it. It’s a real thing!
Peeing in a bottle is the best way to go for men and boys. Specially if they get seasick.
Thanks for the article!