Quick Tips for Water Rescue

What should you do if someone you're swimming or boating with ends up in distress? The first answer is to notify an adult. However, if it is the adult who is in trouble, there are some things you can do to help save him or her, that won't put you in danger.

If a swimmer is having problems, whether he or she was thrown from a boat or out paddling around, first toss him or her a life preserver. All boats should have one, but there may not, in reality, be one hanging at every dock or near every shore. If there isn't, the next best thing is to throw him or her, a life jacket. If none of those are around, then you'll have to resort to a nearby inflatable raft or some other floating object, such as an empty Styrofoam cooler. These items are not intended to be life preservers, but if they are all you have, they might work.

Another strategy is to extend something out to the person, such as a fishing pole, or a pole used to clean a pool. A medium-sized branch may also be useful for the person to grab onto, and for you, and the people on shore, to help pull him or her in. A rope can also be used.

If there are others with you at the time the swimmer becomes distressed, have someone run to the nearest phone and call 911 while you attempt to throw or extend something to the swimmer. Remember, no money is needed to call 911 from a pay phone.

In a boat, you can extend an oar to the person, once you are close enough. If you have a motor on the boat, keep it away from the person in the water, as he or she can be injured or killed by the propeller. Once near the person, extend an oar, or have him or her grab onto a rope or the side of the boat.

Though it may be your first impulse, it is important that you do not follow the person into the water. A drowning person will, by instinct, grab onto and drag down whatever he or she can to stay afloat. This includes you. Nothing is worse than a drowned person, except two drowned people, the one in trouble and the one who dove in to help. Also, if someone else is being dragged under by a current, you will be too.

While you are attempting to get the person out of the water, yell for help the entire time. It could be that someone bigger, trained in life guarding, with a cell phone or life preserver will hear you.

While you're looking for something to throw, or yelling for help, don't take your eyes off the person in trouble. If he goes under, and someone arrive seconds later, he will be easier to find if you can point out the exact location.

Learn CPR. Even kids can be effective at Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. When you know how to clear someone's airway, breathe for him, how to do so if there are one or two rescuers, how the technique is different for an infant versus an adult, or even how to instruct adults around you on how to perform CPR, by taking a few hours to become certified, you can help save a life. In the process, learn how to help choking victims and those suffering from hypothermia, and you'll be that much more effective.

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