@_L1vY_ one other important thing to know: be careful how you approach someone who is drowning.

They will instinctually try to grab and climb onto anything to get out of the water. That can lead to pulling a potential rescuer under.

Extending something they can grab, like a preserver, or going behind them is safer.

@rlcw I think I said that badly. A drowning person is fighting for their life and not processing information.

they may not recognize an object that is extended and understand they can hold it.

They will also not realize if the thing they are trying to climb or get above is a human attempting to rescue them.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instinctive_drowning_response

@_L1vY_

@rlcw @bomkatt @_L1vY_ that's interesting (haven't read the sources). Like everyone else, I was taught to be careful of panicked grabbing from a drowning person, to approach from behind, etc

All still a good idea, but interesting if most rescuer problems were from them not being about to handle the water...

@colo_lee I got the info about getting pulled under at PADI rescue diver certification. They teach you to get to people from behind for that reason, and to expect them to not realize you are there to help at first.

It's a real risk, even if I did not manage to post the single most convincing article when citing sources.

@_L1vY_

@bomkatt @_L1vY_ yes, like I said, I too was taught that. And I believe it's a real risk. Be careful in the approach to someone who is drowning

The thing I found interesting was the claim that the major cause of problems for rescuers was their own inability to handle the water where they were attempting a rescue.

Both of these can be true.