BASIC WATER RESCUE STUDY GUIDE
WHO DROWNS:



Drowning is the 4th most common cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States.
Approximately 4500 Americans drown every year.
Children under age 5 and young adults from age 15 to 24 drown more often than others. Males drown 4 times more often
than females.
o An emergency can happen to anyone in, on, or around the water.
ALCOHOL AND WATER DO NOT MIX:

Drinking alcohol in, on, or around water is dangerous. The United States Coast Guard reports that more than half of boatingrelated drownings involve alcohol. Drinking alcohol:
o Affects balance, making it more likely that someone will fall into water.
o Makes it harder to stay warm.
o Affects judgment and may encourage risk taking.
o Slows body movements and impairs vision.
o Reduces a person’s swimming skills, even in excellent swimmers.
SAFETY IN THE WATER:







Learn to swim. Even strong swimmers get into trouble.
Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when around the water or when boating.
Know what to do in case of a water emergency.
Know how to prevent accidents.
Always act safely to reduce the risk of becoming a victim yourself.
Learn boating, first aid and CPR skills.
Pay attention to the local weather conditions and forecasts.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS): The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is a network of
community resources that cares for emergency victims. The system begins to function when someone calls 9-1-1 or the local
emergency number about an emergency.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS (EAP):








An emergency action plan (EAP) is a simple, easy to remember, written plan that directs the actions of individuals
responding to an emergency. The plan should be clearly understood by everyone.
An EAP should be discussed and practiced regularly.
An EAP should be developed for any emergency that could occur during a planned aquatic activity.
All emergencies – The 1st thing you should always do is get help.
An EAP should specify the steps each person in the group should take in an emergency.
An EAP should state the location of safety and rescue equipment.
An EAP state how to access medical assistance.
An EAP should state how the person who recognizes an emergency is to signal others.
The follow-up procedures after an emergency should include:



Conduct a debriefing.
Inspecting equipment and supplies used in an emergency.
Reporting the incident to the appropriate individual or authorities.
“”REACH or THROW, DON’T GO”
REACHING ASSISTS:











Hand
Foot
Pole
Oar
Paddle
Rescue Tube
Tree Branch
Shirt
Belt
Towel
Shepherd’s Crook
THROWING ASSISTS:





Heaving Line
Rig Buoy
Throw Bag
Rescue Tube
Any floating object at hand, such as a picnic jug, small cooler, buoyant cushion, kickboard, or extra life jacket.
WADING ASSISTS with EQUIPMENT:

If the water is safe and shallow enough (not over your chest), you can wade in to reach the victim. Keep an object between
you and the victim to help prevent him or her from clutching at you in a panic.
o Rescue Tube
o Ring Buoy
o Buoyant Cushion
o Kickboard
o Life Jacket
o Tree Branch
o Pole
o Plastic Cooler
o Picnic Jug
o Paddle
o
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEAD, NECK, and BACK INJURY:



Neck injuries most commonly occur when a person dives into shallow water and hits bottom or strikes an object head-first.
Always suspect a head, neck, or back injury in these situations:
o Any fall from a height greater than the person’s height
o Any person found unconscious for an unknown reason
o Any serious head injury
o Any injury using a diving board or water slide, or diving from a height, such as a bank or cliff
o Diving into shallow water
Signals that indicate a possible head, neck, or back injury:
o Pain along the spine at the site of the injury
o Partial or complete loss of movement in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
o Tingling or loss of sensation in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
o Disorientation
o Abnormal shape of back or neck
o Bruise(s) over the spine
o Difficulty breathing or no breathing
o Obvious head injury
o Fluid (other than water) or blood in the ears
o Sudden memory loss
CARING FOR POSSIBLE HEAD, NECK, and BACK INJURY:



You should always check first whether a lifeguard or other trained professional is present before touching or moving a
victim who may have a head, neck, or back injury.
The hip and shoulder support is used for a victim who is face up at or near the surface of the water.
The head splint is used for a victim found face down at or near the surface of the water.
** When using the head splint in water with currents or waves, the victim should be positioned with head upstream.
SEIZURES:

You must move quickly to help someone having a seizure in the water. To assist someone having a seizure in the water:
o Have someone call 9-1-1.
o Support the victim to keep the head and face above water so that he or she can breathe and avoid inhaling water.
o Remove the victim from the water after the seizure. Place the victim on his or her side to let fluids drain from the
mouth.
REMOVAL FROM WATER:


The Beach Drag – is used in shallow water on a sloping shore or beach. It works well with a heavy or unconscious victim.
Do not use beach drag if you suspect the victim has a head, neck, or back injury.
The Walking Assist – is used for a victim who is in shallow water at a pool or waterfront, can stand, and may be able to
walk with your help. Do not use the walking assist if you suspect the victim has a head, neck, or back injury.
LIFE JACKETS:





Anyone who cannot swim well should wear or have a life jacket if they are going to be in, on or around the water.
Even good swimmers should wear a life jacket when boating or water skiing or if there is any chance of falling or being
thrown into the water.
Although you should always wear a life jacket, it is even more important when the water is cold.
The number of life jackets on a boat should be at least the number of people there are on the boat.
When selecting a life jacket you should check to see that it is:
o U.S. Coast Guard approved
o The proper size
o In good condition
COLD WATER:
**
Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition in which the body is unable to maintain
warmth, dropping the core temperature.

HELP POSITION
o HELP stands for Heat Escape Lessening Posture
o This position is used by one person wearing a life jacket to conserve body heat in cold water while awaiting rescue.

HUDDLE POSITION
o The huddle position is for two or more people wearing life jackets to conserve body heat in cold water while
awaiting rescue.
ICE SELF RESCUE:

If you fall through ice:
o Shout for help.
o If no help is available, reach forward onto broken ice, but do not push down on it. Use a breaststroke kick or other
kick to push yourself farther up onto the ice.
o Do not stand up once you are on the ice. Lie flat to spread your weight over the ice. Slowly slide to the shoreline.
o If the ice is thin, do not climb onto it. Instead break the ice in front of you as you work your way towards the
shoreline.
o When you reach safety, follow the steps for preventing and caring for hypothermia.
ICE RESCUE:

If a person falls through ice, do not go onto the ice to attempt a rescue. Follow these guidelines:
o Send someone to call 9-1-1.
o Try a reaching or throwing assist from a safe place on land using anything that the victim can hold on to.
o Pull the victim to shore if you can do so safely. Do not go onto the ice. If you cannot pull the person out, keep
talking to him or her. Try to make sure the person holds on to the object until help arrives.
o If you get the victim to shore before help arrives, provide care for hypothermia.
If you fall into cold water without a life jacket, you should:






Look for a log or anything that floats to help support you.
Move a much of your body as possible out of water.
Keep all clothing on, especially your hat. Try to inflate your clothing with air for flotation.
Do not splash around to warm up in cold water.
Swim only if you are close enough to reach shore safely.
If you decide to swim to safety, you should conserve energy by using strokes that will keep your arms under water.
PREVENTING HYPOTHERMIA:




Always wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Wear layers of insulated clothing that keep warm even while wet.
Wear a wet suit or dry suit during aquatic activities.
Wear a hat.
CARING FOR HYPOTHERMIA:






Call 9-1-1.
Get the victim to a warm place.
Remove any wet clothing and dry the victim.
Gradually rewarm the victim’s body by wrapping him or her in blankets or putting on dry clothes. Cover the victim’s head to
prevent further heat loss.
Give warm nonalcoholic and decaffeinated liquids to a conscious victim.
For an unconscious victim, monitor the victim’s breathing and pulse. Be prepared to give rescue breathing or CPR.
CRAMPS:

Massage and stretch.
SUBMERGED VEHICLE:

If your vehicle plunges into water, remain calm and follow these guidelines:
o Tests indicate that even a heavy vehicle will float for about 45 seconds after it enters the water. During this time,
release your safety belt, try to open the nearest window, and exit immediately through the window.
o If the vehicle begins to sink, move to the higher end to breathe the trapped air. Do not try to open the door to exit.
o Use one of three routes to escape:
 Open a window.
 Open an undamaged door when the water pressure is equal inside and out (when the vehicle is nearly full of
water).
 Break or push out a window when the water pressure is equal inside and out (when the vehicle is nearly full
of water).