To scan and observe, you should spend a few seconds every couple of minutes looking around your area. Look at the water, and also look at the pool deck or beach. Keep your eyes out for people in distress, or in potentially risky situations. For example, if there is someone swimming far from shore in choppy waters, you’ll want to keep a close watch on them. Keep your eye out for the elderly and young swimmers. This is especially important if there are children with you, or others who are not strong swimmers.
Active drowning can begin within 20 seconds of the person being in distress. An active drowning victim will not be able to call for help. While an active drowning victim might still be vertical in the water, they will be unable to move towards help or safety. Active drowning victims will not be able to wave for assistance or reach for equipment. Once drowning has begun, the victim cannot voluntarily control his arm movements. Active drowning victims typically struggle on the surface for 20-60 seconds before being submerged. Active drowning victims will have their heads tilted back so their mouth and nose is above water, this is an instinct.
A passive drowning victim is someone who is unconscious in the water. Assume the person needs medical attention and call for help. A tired swimmer might be using short, weak strokes and appear to be looking for something to cling to. They might call for assistance.
Bystanders may also be able to help with the rescue if you’re struggling. If the drowning victim is unconscious, have someone call for emergency services right away.
Do not attempt a rescue unless you are a strong swimmer and know what you are doing. If you are a weak swimmer, you can put both yourself and the drowning victim in danger. The assistance of a flotation device even if you are a strong swimmer is important. Most professional lifeguards carry some sort of flotation device.
Make sure to always take a flotation device with you. You will need it in case you encounter problems, or you become tired. You may also need it to support the victim. If possible, use a rescue tube. These devices are the easiest to utilize while performing a rescue.
If you have experience using this tool, it is possible that you can extend the pole and aim the loop so it surrounds the victim. You can then pull the victim to shore. Do not attempt to loop the victim if you are unfamiliar with this process. You might inadvertently cause more panic.
Victims often begin to panic even more if they are turned away from the shore, which can cause them to drown faster. Remember that the victim cannot control their arm movements. Therefore, do not waste time saying things such as “grab on”.
To do this, approach the victim from behind and put your arms under their armpits, grab their shoulders and flip them on to you keeping your head to the side and out of harm’s way. Your rescue tube should be under your arms and between you and the victim. Try to calm them by telling them who you are, and that you are here to help. Before you find yourself in an emergency situation, it is a good idea to practice this movement. In the safety of a pool, ask a friend or family member to volunteer to be your practice buddy. Practice swimming from behind and firmly lifting the “victim” onto the tube.
As you tow your victim, make sure you keep an eye on them. You want to make sure they remain safely on the flotation device. If necessary, pause to reposition them so they are stable. If the flotation device is easy to grasp, you can pull the victim to shore by holding onto the device and towing that while you swim.
Place your ear next to the victim’s mouth to listen for breathing. You can also look at their chest to see if it is rising and falling due to breathing. If you cannot see or hear breathing, check their pulse. Place your two first fingers on the wrist or neck and hold them there for 10 seconds. If you cannot detect a pulse, begin CPR. Place the heel of your hand in the center of their chest, in line with the nipples. Make sure not to press on the ribs. Begin chest compression by pressing down at the rate of at least 100 pulses per minute. Complete 30 compressions, make sure the chest is going all the way down and coming back up. There is a high chance of breaking their ribs, so be prepared for that. Check for breathing. If they are not breathing, start CPR again. It is very important to take CPR classes through your local Red Cross so that you can practice this technique.
Before you find yourself in this situation, make sure that you are aware of your own swimming skills. Don’t attempt a rescue if you cannot easily swim 50 yards doing a breaststroke or front crawl. You must be a strong swimmer and confident in your swimming skills. Make sure that you are capable of treading water for at least 2 minutes without struggling. Some protocols state that you should be able to tread 2 minutes in the water with a 10 lb weight. If you cannot do this, it is unlikely you are a strong enough swimmer to conduct a successful rescue.
If possible, take a cell phone with you to the pool or beach so that you can call for help if necessary. Immediately after assessment point to someone and tell them to call EMS immediately. Make sure that people who aren’t strong swimmers have a life vest to wear. Be aware of your surroundings. Even if you do not plan to swim, know that accidents can happen even when you are on the shoreline or by the side of a pool. Watch for people falling in the water accidentally.
Do not go in natural bodies of water if the conditions are unfavorable. For example, do not go in a lake if it is especially windy and the waves are strong. You should avoid going in the ocean when the tides are aggressive. Many beaches post signs or flags advising you of conditions. Do not swim if a warning is posted.
Supervise children at all times when they’re around water. [16] X Expert Source Brad HurvitzCertified Swimming Instructor Expert Interview. 13 February 2020. For example, you could implement the buddy system. Make sure that your child knows that they are never allowed to swim alone or without supervision. If you are going out on a boat, take life vests that are child-sized. Children can learn to swim as early as 1 year old. It’s an excellent idea to begin swim lessons early. [17] X Expert Source Brad HurvitzCertified Swimming Instructor Expert Interview. 13 February 2020.
