Order Of Rescue
In the Aquanaut Webelos adventure, we are introduced to the “Order of Rescue”. This is a quick list, in order, of how we should treat any situation that involves an water emergency. Many times the individual who is in need help is just a few feet away from the shore or the dock. The key to rescuing is to ensure that your will not become a victim yourself.
1. REACH with whatever is available or at hand. Stay onshore and reach out with a branch, a stick, or a pole. Then pull the victim to shore.
2. THROW a line, a buoy. a floating object to provide support. Takeoff your shirt, kneel down, hold one sleeve and throw out the other sleeve. Or take off your pants and tie one leg to a sleeve if you need a longer "line."
3. ROW when the victim is further out, use a boat to save. In a rowboat, approach the victim with the stern of the boat. In a canoe or surfboard, pull up so that they can grasp the side. (Kneel in the canoe).
4. GO if the first 3 steps can't be used as a last resort swim to the victim. Keeping your eyes on the victim, kick off your shoes and disrobe. Jump; do not dive, into the water. Carry your shirt or towel in your teeth. Keep your eyes on the victim. Swim out near enough to extend your towel or shirt to him and tow him in by it. If you have nothing to extend to him. approach him from behind and tow him to safety by his hair.
5. Don't allow the victim to latch onto you. Don't attempt a rescue beyond your swimming ability. The victim is in survival mode and will do anything to keep themselves from drowning, even if that means pushing you down into the water without knowing it.
I few years back I was the one who was needing the rescue. You can read about it here. I can attest that your mind is going through freak out mode when your starting to sink into the water that may take your life. Oddly enough I can still recall every detail of the incident. My father in-law did everything right when he jumped in to save me and held my head above the water from behind. Amazingly at the same time a boat saw us in need and came rushing with as inner-tube.
If you have any doubt about your swimming ability, wear a life jacket! It doesn’t matter if you don’t look “cool” in it. It was nice that we as leaders did not have to worry about our youth as they played on the obstacle course in the middle of the water front at scout camp this last year. It was required, no matter your swimming ability, youth or adult, that you had to wear a life jacket to play in the water. Safety should always be first.