Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

[Nautes]

Thank you so much. Very helpful information.

[Kd9truck]

Hi,
I hope this finds past posters well.

so I am retired but one of my occupations with in the FDNY was as a Rescue Swimmer Instructor, this was a great read but I would like to add if I can.

ONE THIRD OF ALL DROWNING VICTIMS ARE WOULD BE RESCUERS
A great many “rescuers” are drown by the victim, the victim will climb on top of the rescuer.
Sometimes kids drowning parents. Sometimes in back yard swimming pools.

If you have not swam laps for fitness even if you were a life guard within the past 10 years. You may be putting yourself in grave danger.

First: Try to reach them with something (a hook, a fishing net, a spinnaker pole, floating rope)
Second: Throw them something that floats hopefully with a rope on it

Last resort: get in the water with something that floats and pass it to them before getting close enough for them to grab you.

We ran a program with 3,000. Firefighters ranging in size and swimming abilities, very few of these fit members could swim more than 75 ft without needing a break. What’s my point? 2 drowning people is worse then 1 drowning person.

Be aware of your “urgency to act” impulse and have the right tools to execute the “Reach, throw, and Go” S.O.P. successfully.

my “tool kit”
A horse shoe life ring attached to 250 ft of floating rope.
A 10 ft collapsible hook
Scuba fins
Triathlon goggles already fitted.

I swim 3-6 days a week all year long about a mile each time for 19 yrs, open water in summer and pools in winter. It only takes 2 consecutive breaths of water to kill you.

[dannc]

I would urge people to watch this video of a child in a crowded pool start to drown. A lifeguard save the child.

Watch the actions of the drowning child, and others, but also try to see which kid is in trouble, their behavior and how fast it happens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KTqPloUiU

Later,
Dan

[JPA Cate]

That was a good life guard! The victim did not present the same as they do in deep water, though (where they can't touch the bottom). All that arm action was a real eye catcher. Thanks for the video, dannc.

Thanks Kd9truck, too, for the reminder to provide flotation for the victim, way better than having to swim underwater to the edge of the pool because she climbed up on you.

Ann