Assisted Rescues

If a reaching or throwing rescue has been unsuccessful, or if a land based rescue is not possible, you may have to enter the water.

Use a buoyant or rigid aid which you give to the casualty to hold onto. A rescue ring, empty cannister, or torpedo buoy will work well.

Use Your Clothes as Rescue Aid

Remember, your clothes can be used as a rescue tool, so don't discard them. Practice taking your top off in the water and present it to the casualty to hold onto. Get this move down to no longer than 5 seconds.

 Avoid Direct Contact

DO NOT make direct contact with the casualty until you've reached the edge, unless they have difficulty to move. They may grasp you and get you into trouble.

Once you have hold of the pool side or the beach, assist the casualty out of the water and then climb out. Ask them to sit down and face away from the water. Treat for shock if necessary.

 Wading Rescue

Where a casualty is in shallower water this often requires a wading rescue. You should know at what depth you become too buoyant to carry out a wading rescue safely.

Wade to no more than waist depth, so you're not over-balanced by the buoyancy of the water. Thereafter it becomes a towing rescue. Practice this in different clothes with different buoyancy to gain experience.

Enter shallow water safely as near to the casualty as possible. Take with you a suitable buoyant aid or rigid pole. Use an item of your clothing if you have no rescue aid. Encourage the casualty to hold on to the aid and follow you back to safety.

 Swim with an Aid

If the casualty is in deeper water you may have to swim towards them with a rescue aid like a rope, empty can, a stick, or your clothes. This requires skill and practice, so prepare for that.

A truck tire tube can be big enough to sit on and is easier to tow or paddle than just the casualty.



Assist your casualty to land only when you have a firm hold on the edge.