Essential Drowning Rescue Techniques for Divers
In diving, every diver may encounter dangerous situations where someone is drowning. If you hear someone calling for help, see someone struggling desperately in the water and gradually sinking, or if someone is unresponsive underwater for a long time, you need to take timely rescue actions.
Entry Methods
If you are on shore or on a boat, you need to choose the correct entry method to ensure the rescuer’s safety. Also, make sure to enter the water away from the boat’s propeller.
- Head-first Entry: When the drowning person is far from the entry point, a head-first entry is suitable. This is similar to regular diving techniques, with a small entry angle (about 15 degrees) to quickly get to the surface and approach the victim.
- Feet-first Entry: When the drowning person is closer, use a feet-first entry method.
- Stride Entry: Similar to a stride jump. After jumping, legs are spread front and back, arms raised to the sides. Upon water contact, legs are quickly brought together. Hands push down on the water to prevent deep submersion, then transition into a swimming position. This method is suitable for shorter distances.
- Piling Method: Cross arms over the chest, one hand covering the mouth and nose. Jump with legs straight and together, body in a straight line. Bend the body when the water reaches the waist, hands pressing down to prevent deep submersion. Quickly transition into swimming. This method is suitable for slightly longer distances.
Approaching the Drowning Person
If the entry point is far from the victim, or while approaching, use breaststroke or heads-up freestyle. These strokes allow you to observe the drowning person’s situation and position changes, enabling timely route and rescue plan adjustments. When within 1-1.5 meters of the victim, if they are facing you, dive below the victim’s abdomen, use your hands to turn their hips 180 degrees to face away, then surface to start the rescue. If grabbed by the victim before the rescue, use self-rescue techniques to break free, then proceed with the rescue.
Towing Techniques
When close to the victim or after turning them to face away, start towing them. Towing requires strong technical skills and physical fitness. If the victim still has weights on, remove them immediately.
- Reverse Breaststroke Towing:
- Hold the victim’s chin, use reverse breaststroke kicks for propulsion. Ensure knees do not bend too much, and keep the body as flat as possible.
- Hold the victim’s armpits, using reverse breaststroke kicks for propulsion. Stay close to the victim, lying flat on the water.
- Side Stroke Towing:
- Lie on your side in the water, one hand supporting the victim’s occipital region (back of the head), the other hand stroking, legs performing scissor kicks for propulsion.
- Lie on your side, one hand extending from the victim’s armpit across their chest, holding the torso, the other hand stroking, legs performing scissor kicks for propulsion.
Helping the Victim Ashore
This technique is often used in swimming pools or natural water bodies when bringing someone onto a boat. Since the victim might be unconscious, ensuring they are not further harmed is crucial.
Upon nearing the shore, use the underarm towing method. At the shore, grab the edge with your left hand, insert your right hand under the victim’s right armpit, quickly placing their right hand on the shore, press it down, and place their other hand on top. Release your right hand, press both of the victim’s hands down, and push yourself and the victim onto the shore.
Once ashore, hold the victim’s wrists, rotate their body 180 degrees to face away, and lift them to sit at the pool’s edge. Support the victim’s back with your right leg, hold their neck and occipital region, and gently lay them down.
Always protect the victim’s neck to avoid further injury. After rescuing the victim, perform CPR and artificial respiration as needed.
