How do you save someone from drowning

[kabatura]

It's summer time and for me that means rope swings over deep water. Where we go you have to swim across a 100 ft wide or so river. A couple of summes ago my friends cousin almost drowned because he could barely swim and was completely out of shape. I tried to help him but he just about brought me under. My friend, the cousin, got him, he was a much better swimmer and had some life guarding experience.

Moral of the story is, I get nervous thinking about taking anyone out there now.

If something were to happen what is the simplest way for someone to help someone who can't make it alone?

 

[Bible_Belt]

It's dangerous.

"Police under orders not to save drowning victims"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2512401.ece

http://www.wikihow.com/Rescue-an-Active-Drowning-Victim

I think the coming up behind them and grabbing under the armpits and especially the keeping them calm are the most important parts.

 

[j0n024]

What Bible said.

I'm in no way an expert but I have had some friends teach me some techniques and was a test dummy for some (They wanted to be a life guard at pool) .

Most of the time if you can get behind them and put your arms under there armpits so your arm is in front of their chest and tell them to relax and try to float you SHOULD be able to use your legs to get you back to a little shallower water or at least make him relax enough to try again. There's one where you tell them to relax and grab them by the legs so they can float and just use your legs like before.

The hardest thing is making someone calm down when they are panicking, you have to talk them out of it because I've seen alot of people clam up because they started freaking and dug themselves deeper into a trouble.

But the easiest thing you can do is just when you go out just by an all wear Life vest, quickest,easiest and safest way to stay safe out there....might not look cool but it's better then actually being in this sorta situation.

 

[Yookiwooki]

actually jumping in to save them is the very last resort
if you cant reach them from dry ground, look for a pole/branch.

if they are too far away to do that, look for something that floats to throw out to them. (life jacket, foam things, cooler, etc.)

if you actually do go in, do what they said above, and get them from behind. they may try to grab you. If they do that, try to take a breath and swim down. If you go down they will not follow you.

Most importantly, if they EVER go unconscious or you think they dove into shallow water and hurt their head or spine, make sure someone is calling 911 before you do ANYTHING.

 

[theunflushables]

Yooki is some what right with the floating things, however don't throw it out there. If you miss or it floats away you're fvcked. When I was a lifegaurd at Cedar Point we all carried those orange lifeguard noodle things (their exact name escapes me). But being out in a river more than likely there is none of those around. Grab a life vest or anything that floats that you would be able to hold on to. Like Bible belt said push your arms under their armpits and use your upper arm strength to hold them. Have them as well as you grab your floatation device. Use your legs to kick back to where you can walk them out.