What is the responsibility of ditching station 18 during an emergency?

The responsibility of ditching station 18 during an emergency is to ensure that life vests are taken and made ready for use. Life vests are crucial safety equipment that help individuals stay afloat in water, particularly in emergency situations where the primary means of safety has been compromised. By ensuring that life vests are available and accessible, ditching station 18 plays a critical role in enhancing the survival chances of those onboard.

In an emergency, the immediate priority is to provide flotation devices to individuals to prevent drowning. Life vests are designed to keep users afloat even if they are unconscious, making them essential gear in situations requiring rapid evacuation from an aircraft or vessel. Having these readily available at ditching station 18 is a vital part of emergency preparedness.

Other responsibilities, though important, do not directly align with the primary lifesaving function provided by life vests in the context of a ditching scenario. By focusing on the distribution and readiness of life vests, ditching station 18 ensures that passengers and crew members can quickly and effectively respond to an emergency requiring evacuation over water.