Comments on: How to Rescue a Drowning Person

on 12/8/2005 If the person drowning starts to take you under, swim toward the bottom and the person being rescued will let go of you and try to get back to the top of the water.

on 12/8/2005 The phrase is Reach, Throw, Row, Go with equipment!

on 12/8/2005 If you swim out to a downing person and they grab you and they're pulling you down with them, take a deep breath and start sinking yourself. The drowning person will let go and try to swim back to the surface, freeing you.

on 12/8/2005 You want to avoid touching the person if at all possible. Even if you have to resort to entering the water to retrieve the victim, bring a buoyant reaching aid to reach out to them. Approach slowly and with a foot out-stretched to fend off a potentially dangerous victim (remember, drowning people resort to instincts).

Unless you are alone, always call for help first, in case you end-up needing assistance as well. And remember, your life is always the priority.

on 12/15/2005 If a drowning person is choking you and dragging you down: swim to the bottom. That's the only place the drowning person won't follow. Once underwater, swim away and try again.

on 12/15/2005 If you're not a trained and certified lifeguard, you're much better advised to use one of the first 3 methods. The golden rule of all rescue operations is to not become an additional victim!
Drowning victims, in their panic, may try to climb up on an approaching rescuer in the water. Talk to the victim as you approach to try to calm them and establish your control. If they grab you in panic, don't fight with them: dive for the bottom. They'll let go!

on 12/15/2005 Don't panic. It will scare the person drowning. Calm down by trying to figure out what to do without panicking.

on 12/15/2005 "Reach, Throw, Row, and Go" is the maxim for trained lifeguards. For everyone else, If you've already tried the "Reach, Throw" portions, or the victim is clearly too far from safety for those to be viable options, there are two other ways to safely help.

One: The Chain - Form a human chain with others, or tie a rope around the rescuer's waist that is held by someone else on shore. The rescuer should then extend an item (a PFD, stick, towel, or anything that floats) to the victim, but never attempt to physically hold the person. Pull them to safety.

Two: The Boat Extension - Take an item to extend to the victim from a boat or raft. Lean the opposite direction from the victim as the assist is given, or the boat may capsize. In that situation, even a capsized boat is better than swimming, as the boat provides something to hold on to. Canoes have sealed flotation chambers and will not sink when turtled.

Under no circumstances should an untrained rescuer ever get into the water closer than 6-8 feet from a conscious victim, even if they appear calm. If the victim appears to be unconscious, yell their name, and "Are you OK?" to elicit a response. If no response, cautiously approach the victim from the rear, slide your hand up the back of their head to the top, firmly grip the hair in your fist, and pull them to safety. The sidestroke, or scissor kick, is how to swim. This gives you two advantages: you are out of reach if the victim regains consciousness and begins to thrash around, and it is less tiring to pull someone in by the hair than by the chest carry.

As difficult as the choice may be, do not get close enough to a conscious victim to grab and pull you under. In their panic, they don't know what they're doing, and will literally claw their way to the top of your head and hold you under, drowning both of you. Family and friends will have enough tragedy if the victim does not survive; they do not need to lose two of you.

on 12/15/2005 If they are dragging you down, go under the water yourself, they'll let go. The last thing a drowning person wants to do is go back underwater. This is a good way to get free and try to regain control.

on 12/15/2005 Take a breath of air and go under the water. The person will let go of you so they can stay above the water.

on 12/15/2005 The mnemonic, as I've heard it is: "Reach, Throw, Row, and only then Go". This means getting in the water and swimming to them is only a last resort.

on 12/15/2005 Whenever the person you are trying to rescue panics and takes you under, go under yourself. The last place the drowning person wants to go is under the water.

on 11/22/2005 The correst phrase is "Reach, throw, don't go" b/c drowning people pull you under.

on 11/22/2005 Don't go in the water if you're not certified. There's more to pulling someone out of the water than grabbing them and swimming.

on 11/22/2005 Those who go on or near the water should have a rescue tube or rescue can and be trained in its use and in CPR by the American Red Cross or another appropriate agency. Having the correct equipment and training can mean the difference between life and deat