Water Safety at Home : Rescue Advice
If you see someone in difficulty in the water…
Shout for help and send someone to ring 999
Put your own safety first, do not put yourself in danger. Never jump in. A drowning person may be very strong and pull you under the water as well. If it is too dangerous to help, leave the rescue to the emergency services.
If it is safe to help, without endangering your own safety, then try to reach the person with a stick, scarf or any other object. Crouch or lie down to avoid being pulled in.
If a rope is available this is the best thing to use, you can then pull the person in. Otherwise throw in something that will float; a ball, plastic bottle or lifebuoy, this will help to keep the person afloat until assistance arrives.
Test the depth of the water with a long stick before entering the water to ensure you are not going to be out of your depth. Then use the stick to reach out to the person. Hold onto the bank or someone else to prevent you from falling.
If there is a boat available and you can use it safely then row out to reach the person. Do not try and pull the person on board in case they panic and capsize the boat. Get them to hold onto the side of the boat whilst you row them back to the shore.
Once rescued keep the casualty warm and make sure that they get medical help.
Consider taking a basic first aid course and learning resuscitation techniques. Contact St John’s Ambulance (www.sja.org.uk) or the Red Cross (www.redcross.org.uk) for further information.
