It’s so comforting to know that in times of imminent danger, our stress call will require seven careful steps.
I saw this sign posted on the Governors Island Ferry when heading back to Manhattan after a nice birthday picnic in the park. You may recall that New York City has had some ferry trouble in the past, so it was a bit disconcerting to discover that there isn’t just a big red telephone aboard these ships in the event of an emergency. What happens if you’re in a panic and you don’t follow the appropriate procedure?
Despite the seriousness of the usability issue here, I was tickled to see that step #1 is to ensure that the radio is turned on — having worked as tech help for two years in college, this is what I call a classic.
I also wonder if stress is what caused the top left of the Plexiglas to crack off.
Where they have “vessel name and description,” they should just say what those are. How do you know what's the vessel name and description? I guess if these instructions are for staff though, they actually would know that…
I kinda like how the broken corner changes “DISTRESS CALL” into “STRESS CALL”. But they probably don't want just any stressed out person using this procedure :-)