Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning
slate.com
Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.

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Every summer I repost this article on how to spot drowning. Please read it and pass on. In the last few years I’ve had SIX messages from people who saved a kid’s life after clicking on the link from my feed.

  • Novi Sad@feddit.orgOP
    2·
    14 hours ago

    Extremely important, thanks.

    What about the recommendation that, if one does approach them directly, one should do so with a leg rather than an arm?

    • spudsrus@aussie.zone
      1·
      3 hours ago

      I don’t know if it’s still valid but when I did bronze med yes, there was an approach position with one raised leg to kick or splash if needed that was taught.

      Drowning people will often try to climb on you and shove you under to breath. If splashing and keeping distance with a foot fails you hold your breath and dive. They will let go and try to get back to air.

      The general chain of preferences was: reach>throw>wade>row>swim>tow

      Reach with a stick or something if you can avoid getting in.

      Throw a flotation aid or rope

      Wade out and throw a flotation aid or rope

      Use a boat or board etc if available

      Swim out with a flotation aid

      Swim out and tow them in while swimming.