How to save a drowning man and not drown yourself: instructions from a rescuer

How to understand that a person is drowning

A drowning person does not behave the way it is shown in the films - he does not wave his hands and shout: "Help!" This is what the American lifeguard Francesco Pia is about. He introduced the concept of "the instinctive reaction of a drowning man." The following signs indicate it:

His mouth goes under water, then appears on the surface, but he cannot breathe and call for help. That is, they usually drown in silence.
The drowning man does not wave - his arms are extended to the sides. He does this instinctively, trying to push off the water and float.
He cannot make meaningful movements: grab a lifebuoy or reach out to those who came to the rescue.
While the instinctive reaction of the drowning person is manifested, the person is in the water vertically. It can hold out on the surface from 20 to 60 seconds. And then it goes completely under the water.

Those who shout, call for help, wave their hands, also need help. But this is a completely different stage - panic in the water. It can precede the instinctive reaction of the drowning person and usually does not last long. But in this case, the drowning person can still help his rescuers. For example, reach out to them or grab a circle.

It happens that the main sign that a person is drowning is his dissimilarity to a drowning person. It seems as if he just floats on the water and looks at you. Ask a question if everything is in order. And if he doesn't answer, you have less than 30 seconds to get him out.

Mario Vittone lifeguard

There are other signs that a person is in urgent need of help:

Head thrown back, mouth open.
Closed eyes or glass eyes that focus on nothing.
Trying to roll over onto your back.
Movements resembling climbing a rope ladder.

If you find a person with an instinctive drowning reaction, you cannot hesitate. For such cases, Francesco Pia developed a technique called Pia Carry. You need to swim up to the victim from behind and from below, clasp the waist with one hand, push out the head and shoulders of the drowning person above the water, and paddle to the shore with the other hand.

Help a drowning man: the Pia Carry technique

How not to drown yourself

The body is lighter than water, so they usually drown when they panic. Try experimenting.

Immerse yourself at a shallow depth in the water, curl your legs. You will feel the water pushing you up. Remember this feeling.

Roll over onto your back and relax. The head can be completely submerged in water. The main thing is that the nose and mouth remain on the surface.

Calmness is a guarantee that you, even not knowing how to swim well, will be able to hold out on the water for quite a long time.

If you do panic:

Do not raise your hands up, do not hit the water with them. Move them in the very water column: in this case, it is easier to keep your head on the surface.
Move your legs as if you were walking down the street.
As soon as possible, draw as much air into your lungs as possible. The body will immediately become lighter. And try to relax.

Things to remember when entering the water

1. Never swim while drunk. Especially lying on mattresses or inflatable rings.

2. Remember that during the hottest hours (from 12.00 to 16.00) in the water you can get sunstroke and lose consciousness. Don't take risks.

3. Do not swim alone, especially in unfamiliar bodies of water. Let there always be someone nearby who will follow you and, if necessary, provide assistance.

4. If you have swum far and are tired, rest. Roll over onto your back, relax, relax in the shape of a "star". After you regain your breath, slowly move to the shore.

5. If the current carries you away, do not resist: wait until it weakens and slowly move towards the shore.

Reverse currents are very dangerous (rip current). They arise off the coast and lead directly to the open sea or ocean. Such currents can carry several hundred meters from the coast. The best tactic is not to swim against the current, but parallel to the shore. Usually rips are several meters wide, so getting out of them is easy. Save energy.

6. If your muscles are tight, act vigorously:

A hip cramp can be relieved by bending your knee and pressing your heel against your buttock.
Your abdominal muscles will relax as you pull your legs up to your stomach.
The reduced calf muscle will be helped by forward movement: pull your leg out of the water and pull your foot towards you with your hands.
Hand cramp will disappear if you sharply squeeze and unclench your fingers several times.

Calmness and awareness are the main helpers in extreme situations on the water. Remember this always.