Medical & Maritime Safety Disclaimer

Effective Date: March 31, 2026

Last Updated: April 3, 2026

Operator: T & T Educational Support Services, LLC, a West Virginia limited liability company, doing business as Hey First Mate (“Hey First Mate,” “we,” “us,” or “our”)
Mailing Address: 252 Garnett Hill Drive, Urbanna, Virginia 23175
Email: ty@heyfirstmate.com
Phone: (703) 209-0921

1. Hey First Mate Is an Informational Tool Only

1.1 General Informational Purpose

Hey First Mate provides general informational and organizational assistance only. Any output generated by the Service, whether in text, voice, image-related analysis, or another format, is general information and may be inaccurate, incomplete, delayed, outdated, or wrong.

Hey First Mate does not have real-time situational awareness, cannot independently verify your vessel's actual condition, cannot directly observe your surroundings, and cannot reliably assess the immediate risks of your specific environment.

1.2 What Hey First Mate Does Not Replace

Hey First Mate is not, and does not replace:

• a licensed captain, master, or credentialed maritime professional;
• a certified marine surveyor, marine mechanic, electrician, rigger, or technician;
• a licensed physician, nurse, paramedic, pharmacist, poison specialist, or other healthcare professional;
• a professional meteorologist or official marine weather service;
• a maritime attorney, insurance advisor, or regulatory compliance professional;
• official nautical charts, Notices to Mariners, Coast Pilot publications, Light Lists, or other official navigation publications;
• ECDIS, chartplotters, AIS, radar, depth sounders, compasses, VHF radios, EPIRBs, PLBs, or any other certified navigation, distress, or safety equipment; or
• formal boating, sailing, first-aid, CPR, or emergency-response training.

1.3 AI Limitations

Artificial intelligence can sound confident and still be wrong. You must not treat Hey First Mate's output as authoritative merely because it is clearly written, detailed, or persuasive.

2. No Navigation Reliance

Hey First Mate is not a certified navigation system and must never be used as the sole or primary basis for navigation, collision avoidance, route planning, waypoint setting, anchoring decisions, weather routing, bar or inlet entry, or any other live operational decision affecting safety.

You must always use:

• properly maintained and appropriate onboard equipment;
• official, current charts and navigation publications;
• direct observation and prudent seamanship; and
• applicable navigation rules, regulations, and local requirements.

You remain solely responsible for maintaining a proper lookout, evaluating conditions, and complying with COLREGs, U.S. Coast Guard requirements, and other applicable laws.

3. No Emergency Reliance

Hey First Mate is not an emergency response system and must not be used to summon help, coordinate rescue, or delay a call for emergency assistance.

In any emergency or distress situation, including but not limited to collision, grounding, flooding, sinking, fire, fuel leak, carbon monoxide exposure, dismasting, man overboard, severe weather danger, or serious onboard injury, do not rely on Hey First Mate.

Use proper distress and emergency procedures immediately, including approved communication methods and safety equipment.

Hey First Mate may be unavailable due to connectivity loss, offshore limitations, device failure, service interruption, or processing delay.

4. No Medical Advice

Hey First Mate is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Any health-related or first-aid-related information provided by Hey First Mate is general educational information only. It does not replace professional medical judgment, individualized treatment, or emergency intervention.

You must not use Hey First Mate to diagnose a medical condition, decide whether emergency care is needed, determine medication dosing, delay calling for emergency help, or substitute for licensed medical advice.

This is especially important for chest pain, breathing difficulty, severe bleeding, trauma, allergic reactions, stroke symptoms, drowning events, hypothermia, heat injury, suspected poisoning, head injury, loss of consciousness, or other potentially serious conditions.

5. No Professional Maritime, Mechanical, Electrical, or Legal Advice

Any information Hey First Mate provides about maintenance, engines, transmissions, rigging, fuel systems, electrical systems, batteries, plumbing, through-hulls, navigation rules, equipment compliance, insurance, or legal obligations is general information only.

Improper diagnosis, maintenance, repair, or operation of marine systems can result in:

• sinking or flooding;
• fire or explosion;
• carbon monoxide poisoning;
• loss of propulsion or steerage;
• rig failure;
• serious injury; or
• death.

You must independently verify any information affecting vessel safety and consult qualified professionals where appropriate.

5A. No Environmental or Regulatory Compliance Reliance

Hey First Mate is not an environmental compliance tool, marine sanctuary monitoring system, or fisheries management service.

Hey First Mate does not have real-time awareness of marine sanctuary boundaries, no-discharge zones, vessel speed restriction zones, right whale slow zones, manatee protection zones, seasonal wildlife closures, protected habitat areas, or other environmentally regulated areas.

Any information Hey First Mate provides regarding environmental regulations, protected species, fishery rules, catch or bag limits, discharge requirements, pump-out locations, Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) compliance, or vessel emissions may be incomplete, outdated, generalized, or wrong for your specific location and circumstances.

You are solely responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable environmental and wildlife protection laws and regulations, including federal, state, local, and international requirements. Violations of environmental and wildlife regulations can result in significant fines, vessel seizure, permit revocation, or criminal penalties.

You must verify all environmental and wildlife-related information independently using official sources, including NOAA, your state environmental or fish and wildlife agency, the relevant marine sanctuary authority, and any applicable international body.

6. No Weather or Sea-State Reliance

Hey First Mate is not an official weather service or routing service.

Any weather, sea-state, tide, current, or forecast-related information provided by Hey First Mate may be incomplete, delayed, generalized, or wrong. Conditions on the water can change rapidly and may differ materially from generalized forecasts or explanations.

You are responsible for obtaining and monitoring official, current marine weather and navigational information before and during any voyage.

7. Offshore, Remote, and Connectivity Limits

Hey First Mate depends on infrastructure and connectivity that may be unavailable or unreliable, especially offshore or in remote areas.

You must not plan or conduct any voyage in a manner that assumes Hey First Mate will be continuously available. You are responsible for carrying and maintaining appropriate backup tools, publications, communications gear, emergency equipment, and non-AI procedures appropriate to your trip.

8. User Responsibility and Assumption of Risk

Boating and sailing are inherently risky activities. By using Hey First Mate, you acknowledge and agree that:

1. You are solely responsible for the safe operation of your vessel.
2. You are solely responsible for the safety of your crew, passengers, and others affected by your actions.
3. You must independently verify critical information before acting on it.
4. You assume all risks associated with using the Service and with boating, sailing, maintenance, and operational decisions made in reliance on or after consulting the Service.
5. Your responsibilities as captain, operator, owner, or crew member cannot be delegated to an AI system.

9. Verify All Critical Information Independently

Before acting on any information from Hey First Mate relating to navigation, weather, equipment, maintenance, health, legal compliance, or safety, you must verify it using authoritative and current sources, qualified professionals, and appropriate onboard tools.

Examples of authoritative sources may include:

• official charts and navigational publications;
• manufacturer manuals and service documents;
• U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA resources;
• certified marine technicians and surveyors;
• licensed healthcare professionals and emergency responders; and
• licensed attorneys and insurance professionals.

10. No Warranty of Accuracy; Limitation on Reliance

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FIRST MATE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT ANY OUTPUT, ALERT, REMINDER, RESPONSE, SUMMARY, OR OTHER CONTENT GENERATED OR PRESENTED BY THE SERVICE IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, CURRENT, RELIABLE, SAFE, OR FIT FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

YOU USE THE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

YOU MUST NOT RELY ON FIRST MATE AS THE SOLE OR PRIMARY BASIS FOR ANY DECISION WHERE AN ERROR, OMISSION, DELAY, OR MISINTERPRETATION COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, VESSEL DAMAGE, ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, OR OTHER LOSS.

11. Emergency and Safety Resources

Keep these resources accessible and verify your own local contacts before departure:

The resources listed below are primarily United States resources. If you operate outside the United States, you are responsible for identifying and maintaining your own local maritime rescue coordination center (MRCC) contacts, coast guard or equivalent emergency authority numbers, towing service information, and emergency medical relay procedures before departure. Maritime distress on VHF Channel 16 is monitored internationally.

• U.S. Coast Guard distress / urgent assistance: use VHF-FM Channel 16; call 911 for emergencies in the United States (999 in the UK, 112 in the EU, or your local emergency number).
• TowBoatUS dispatch: 1-800-391-4869.
• Sea Tow 24/7 customer care / assistance: 1-800-473-2869 (800-4-SEATOW).
• NOAA EPIRB / PLB registration: beaconregistration.noaa.gov.
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
• Mental health crisis support: call or text 988.

For serious onboard medical events offshore, contact the Coast Guard immediately on Channel 16 and request emergency medical relay or other appropriate assistance without delay.

12. Questions About This Disclaimer

If you have questions about this Disclaimer, contact:

T & T Educational Support Services, LLC d/b/a Hey First Mate
252 Garnett Hill Drive
Urbanna, Virginia 23175
Email: ty@heyfirstmate.com
Phone: (703) 209-0921

13. Indemnification and Additional Protection Language

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Hey First Mate, T & T Educational Support Services, LLC, and their owners, affiliates, contractors, licensors, employees, and agents from and against claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or related to your misuse of the Service, your violation of this Disclaimer, your violation of the Terms of Service, your failure to exercise prudent seamanship or sound judgment, your reliance on Service output without independent verification, or your unlawful, negligent, reckless, or wrongful conduct.

This section supplements, and does not replace, any indemnification, limitation-of-liability, warranty-disclaimer, governing-law, venue, or other protective provisions contained in the Terms of Service.

14. Relationship to the Terms of Service and Updates

This Disclaimer is incorporated into and should be read together with the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

If there is any conflict between this Disclaimer and the Terms of Service regarding dispute procedures, liability allocation, governing law, or similar legal mechanics, the Terms of Service will control unless applicable law requires otherwise.

We may update this Disclaimer from time to time. If we make material changes, we may provide notice through the Service, by email, or by another reasonable method before the updated version becomes effective.

15. Plain-English Summary