How to save a drowning person and not drown yourself: instructions from a lifeguard

How to understand that a person is drowning

A drowning man does not behave like they show in films — he does not wave his hands and does not shout: "Help!" said American lifeguard Francesco Pia. He introduced the concept of "the instinctive reaction of a drowning person." It is indicated by the following signs:

• His mouth goes under the water, then appears on the surface, but he can't breathe and call for help. That is, they drown, as a rule, silently.
• The drowning man does not wave — his arms stretch out to the sides. He does it instinctively, trying to push off from the water and float up.
• He cannot make meaningful movements: grab a lifebuoy or extend a hand to those who came to the rescue.
• While the instinctive reaction of a drowning person is manifested, a person is in the water vertically. It can stay on the surface for 20 to 60 seconds. And then it will completely go under 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 a drowning person and usually does not last long. But in this case, the drowning man can still help his rescuers. For example, to reach out to them or grab a circle.

There are other signs that a person urgently needs help:

• Head thrown back, mouth open.
• Closed or glassy eyes that focus on nothing.
• An attempt to roll over on his back.
• Movements resembling climbing a rope ladder.

If you find a person with the instinctive reaction of a drowning person, you can not delay. For such cases, Francesco Pia developed a technique called Pia Carry. You need to swim up to the victim from behind and from below, wrap your waist with one hand, push the head and shoulders of the drowning person above the water, and row to the shore with the other hand.

How not to drown yourself

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

Dive into the water at a shallow depth, squeeze your legs. You will feel the water pushing you up. Remember this feeling.

Roll over on 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 if you don't know how to swim well, will be able to stay on the water for quite a long time.

If you still panicked:

• Do not raise your hands up, do not hit the water with them. Move them in the water column itself: in this case it is easier to keep your head on the surface.
• Move your legs as if you are walking down the street.
• At the first opportunity, fill your lungs with the maximum amount of air. The body will immediately become lighter. And try to relax.

What to remember when entering the water

1. Never swim drunk. Especially lying on mattresses or on inflatable circles.

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

3. Do not swim alone, especially in unfamiliar reservoirs. 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 on your back, relax, relax in the form of an "asterisk". After you recover your breath, slowly move to the shore.

5. If you are carried away by the current, do not resist: wait until it weakens and slowly move to the shore.

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

6. If your muscles are cramped, act energetically:

• The hip cramp can be removed if you bend your leg at the knee and press the heel to the buttock.
• The abdominal muscles will relax if you pull your legs up to your stomach.
• The reduced calf muscle will be helped by moving forward: pull your leg out of the water and pull the foot with your hands to yourself.
• The cramp of the hand will pass if you sharply squeeze and unclench your fingers several times.

Calmness and awareness are the main helpers in extreme situations on the water. Always remember this.