Rescue Swimming

Rescue Swimming includes the skills that are learned to enable an individual attempt a rescue when a swimmer is in difficulty. These are made up of a combination of communication skills, specific 'rescue' swimming strokes and release and evade techniques for self preservation should the rescue go wrong.

• From the moment a swimmer in difficulty is spotted, eye contact must be maintained at all times.
• Assess the situation; environment, available physical aids, others who can help, and so on.
• Attempt to establish voice contact (which if successful can often result in a 'voice-rescue')
• A rescuer should enter the water only as a last resort.
• Rescues should be attempted in the following order:
• Reach
• Throw
• Wade
• Row
• If all of these are fruitless or impossible, the rescuer should enter the water and approach the swimmer, then stop a safe distance away.