Confident & Watersafe

Be aware of dangers test

• Water depth: Shallow/deep
• Obstacles
• Currents
• Water quality
• Entry
• Exits
• Rips

Types of Water that are potentially dangerous

• Unfenced pools, Fishponds, Bathtubs, Washing Machines, Troughs, Irrigation channels, Dams, Post holes all have potential to be dangerous.

Water rescues

• Assess situation
• Put your own and others safety first, often the rescuer gets into trouble as well
• How urgent is the situation?
• Who can assist? Call for medical help if needed. (How long will it be before help arrives?)
• Rescue aids: What is available? (Floatation aids)
• Who/how many people are in difficulty
• Distance from safety
• What type of entry & exits should be used
• Environmental conditions
• Water temperature/quality
• Personal swimming ability and fitness

Assess Person in difficulty

• Unconscious/not breathing
• Face down, floating, no movement, underwater no movement
• Urgent, get and rescue them
• Injured
• Holding limb, wound, struggling to stay afloat. Calling for help.
• Talk them in, provide advice, reach, throw assisted tow? Help to get out. Direct to appropriate exit sight. May cooperate, may try to grasp rescuer.
• Weak swimmer
• Splashing, vertical, semi horizontal, head mostly above water, calling for help, Talk them in, provide advice, reach, throw assisted tow? Help to get out? Direct to appropriate exit sight. May cooperate, may try to grasp rescuer.
• Non-swimmer
• Splashing, vertical, struggling to keep head above water, Talk them in, provide advice, reach, throw assisted tow? Help to get out? Direct to appropriate exit sight. May cooperate, may try to grasp rescuer.

Personal safety first, whenever possible avoid contact with swimmer

• Talk (very safe): Give them instructions
• Reach (safe if done correctly): Pass them something while lying down
• Throw (safe if done correctly): Throw them something, rope pull in
• Wade (Can be dangerous): Wade in and pass them something.
• Row (Can be dangerous): Keep boat/craft upright, tow them to shore
• Swim Dangerous: Pass them something. Be careful not to get pulled under.
• Tow Dangerous: Non-contact and contact tows. Be careful not to get pulled under.
• Spinal: Get assistance, if unconscious you must make sure the casualty(s) are breathing. Breathing comes first!