The survival ladder

Signs of Distress

Indications include struggling to stay afloat, vocalizations like shouting, splashing water, and waving hands.

Reach Rescue

Approach by lying on your stomach, extend a rescue tube, comfort the distressed person, maintain eye contact, and guide them to safety at the poolside.

Types of Jumps

Include straddle jump for distant victims, slide entry for minimal water disturbance.

Equipment for Rescue

Essential items include a throwbag, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and a rescue tube.

Types of Tows

Techniques like vice grip tow for spinal injuries, chin tow to keep the face above water, and clothing tow for distressed swimmers.

Emergency Action Plan

Follow the steps of talk, throw, reach, wade, row, swim, tow, and carry to rescue a distressed individual safely.

1. talk

without going in the water encourage the victim (distressed victim) to get to safety by going to the side of the pool or shore

2. Throw

Throw a buoyant aid ( throw bag or rescue tube) to the victim friom the side of the pool and calmly talk to them while bringing them back to safety

3. Reach

From a dry, safe location extend or throw a rescue object to the victim and pull them to safety. The object can be bouyant or non-buoyant and should be attached to a rope

4. Wade

Wade into shallow water and extend a rescue aid to the victim, or enter deep water while holding onto a solid object and throw the rescue aid.

5. Row

If one is available, use a watercraft and row to the victim until you are close enough to extend a rescue object while staying in the craft.

6. Swim

If there is no watercraft you can use, swim to the victim and provide them with a buoyant aid.  Calmly talk to them while bringing them back to safety without making direct or indirect contact. It is important to push the buoyant aid towards the victim; panic-stricken victims may try to grab onto you, thus endangering you.

7. Tow

If the victim is unable to go to a safe location without additional help, even while hanging onto a buoyant aid, tow them by pulling the other extremity of the object. Make sure you can quickly move away from the victim to ensure your own safety.

8. Carry

Swim to the victim and carry them to safety. Choose this technique as a last resort, since direct contact rescues are the most dangerous ones for lifeguards.

Buoyant aid examples

Throwbag and rescue tube

What does AED stand for

Automated external defibrillator

When is AED used

When someone is in cardiac arrest

Vice grip tow

if they have spinal injury

chin tow

to keep face above water

Double shoulder tow

to maintain a higher head elevation of the unconscious person.

Head tow

if they have head injury

Cross chest tow

if someone passed out

Clothing tow

to grab a distressed swimmer

Armpit tow

control the body position of the unconscious person