When should a life ring be thrown into the water?

A life ring should be thrown into the water immediately after a person falls overboard because this action is crucial for their safety. Quick response can be the difference between life and death in such emergencies. The life ring serves as a flotation device that helps keep the person afloat while rescue operations are underway. It is designed to be easily thrown and will aid in locating the individual in the water until they can be pulled back to safety.

Timing is critical in emergency situations, particularly in scenarios involving someone in the water. The faster the life ring is deployed, the better chance the person has of remaining safe and being rescued effectively. Other situations described, such as calm weather, launching a lifeboat, or docking, are not immediate responses to someone in distress, and therefore do not prioritize the urgent need for buoyancy support that the life ring provides.