Big Picture in Focus: ULOb.

Identify and demonstrate basic water

rescue.

Metalanguage

The most essential terms intended for this week have already discussed by
the previous lesson/week. Thus, it is important to refer back to the essential terms of
this unit. To demonstrate ULOb, I encourage you to proceed immediately in essential
knowledge.

Essential Knowledge

An emergency can happen to anyone in or around the water, regardless of

swimming ability. For example, a strong swimmer can get into trouble in the water
because of sudden illness or injury. Or, a non-swimmer playing in shallow water can
be knocked down by a wave or pulled into deeper water by a rip current. The key to
recognizing an emergency is staying alert and being able to recognize when a
person is having trouble in the water.

BASIC WATER RESCUE

Aimed to provide individuals with information and skills necessary to prevent,

recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies.

DROWNING – It is a death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water

entering the lungs & preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia.

 Near-Drowning - It is survival of a drowning event involving unconsciousness

or water inhalation and can lead to serious secondary complications including
death after the event.
 Secondary Drowning - Lungs physiological responses to even small
quantities include the extrusion of liquid to exchange air and can lead to a
person “drowning in their own body fluid”. The reaction takes place up to 72
hours after near drowning.

BEHAVIOR: SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

 Head tow in the water, mouth at water level.

 Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus.
  Hyperventilating or gasping.
 Trying to roll over on the back float.
 Head tilted back with open mouth.
 Eyes open with fear evident on the face.
 Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway.
 Uncontrollable movement of arms and legs, rarely out of the water.

VICTIM RECOGNITION

The victims are best classified into different categories differing on their
behaviors, balance, motor skills, swimming skills and water safety instruction learned
at different times.

CLASSIFICATION

 Distress Situation – These are people in trouble and in distress but able to
keep afloat, signal for help and take actions.
 DISTRESS SIGNAL – Indicates that a person or group of people, ship,
aircraft and water vehicle is threatened and in imminent danger.

CLASSIFICATION OF DROWNING VICTIM

Conscious Non-Swimmers Unable to swim & often in vertical position.

Conscious Weak Quite dangerous to rescuer as they grab hold
Swimmers whoever comes closer
Conscious Injured Either exhausted or unskilled to swim in clothes
Swimmers after falling.
Unconscious Victim Often they are cooperative in a rescue.

BASIC RESPONSE TO DROWNING INCIDENT

Learning basic water rescue skills is important for anyone who lives, works or
plays near water. There are many different ways to help a person who is in trouble in
the water to safety. The method you will use depends on your level of training and
the situation. Always take care to choose an assist that helps the person, while
keeping you as safe as possible as you respond.

REACH & PULL

  Lie flat on deck with body firmly
anchored, grasp the wrist and pull
slowly and carefully.
 If standing in water, brace feet and
lean back when reaching while
holding unto a support.
 Keep talking to the victim to calm,
instruct him/her what to do.
THROW
 Stand in balance & bend knees;
 Hold onto rope with the throwing
hand assisted by non-throwing
hand.
 Step on non-throwing end of the
rope.
 Release the rope at eye level
towards the victim.
 Improvised any found materials if
necessary.
WADING RESCUE
 The wading rescue is good in
shallow water up to waist deep.
Any more than that and it turns
into a towing rescue. Also, the
victim must be conscious.
 Find a rescue aid and enter the
water as close to the victim as you
can while still keeping safe and
out of his arms reach. If possible,
keep hold of something on shore.
 Instruct the victim to grab onto the
aid and pull him to safety.
 Wading rescues are useful for
shallow water up to waist deep.
TOW
 To draw or pull along behind.
 This technique is commonly used
to unconscious victims and injured
victims.
 Improper towing may lead to
further injury/danger to the victim.

EXTENDED ARM TOW

 Approach behind and place a
cupped hand on the victim’s chin.
 Place the other hand at the back
and gently rotate backwards into
towing position.
 Execute vigorous kick to initiate
momentum, extend towing arm
and swim side stroke or life saving
back stoke.
 Keep the casualty in straight line
with you.

CHIN TOW
 Same as extended but keep the
head close to your shoulder.
 If your arm is grasped, allow the
casualty to hold it while the tow is
continued to safety.

HEAD SUPPORT TOW

 Approach from behind, place both
hands at the side of casualty’s
 head.
 Arms can be extended or bent.
 Kick vigorously and swim
lifesaving backstroke to safety.

CROSS CHEST TOW

 Approach from behind, reach over
& across the casualty, placing the
hand either under armpit or down
side of the body.
 Use other hand to assist to towing
position.
 Clamp the casualty’s body
between the arm across the chest
& hip, swim side stroke.

DOUBLE SHOULDER SUPPORT TOW

 Approach from behind and grasp
the casualty under both armpits;
 Kick vigorously to rotate the
casualty backwards into towing
position.
 Swim lifesaving backstroke to
safety.

SLOPED ENTRY ASSISTS

Sloped entry assists are used to remove a person from the water in areas where there is
a gently sloping entry and exit point.

WALKING ASSIST
 Place one of the person’s arms
around your neck and across your
 shoulder.
 Grasp the wrist of the arm that is
across your shoulder, and wrap
your free arm around the person’s
back or waist.
 Maintain a fi rm grasp, and help
the person walk out of the water.

BEACH DRAG: ONE RESPONDER

 Stand behind the person, and
grasp him or her under the
armpits. Support the person’s
head with your forearms, if
possible.
 Walk backward slowly, dragging
the person out of the water. Use
your legs, not your back, to power
the movement. If you are not able
to move the person completely out
of the water, at least make sure
the person’s head and shoulders
are out of the water
BEACH DRAG: TWO RESPONDERS
 Both responders stand on either
side of the person, facing the
shoreline.
 Place one hand under the
person’s armpit and use the other
hand to support the person’s
head. Have your partner do the
same.
 Lift the person’s torso up, using
your legs, not your back. Walk
 forward slowly, dragging the
person out of the water.

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further
understand the lesson:

Mogul, A. (2016). Aquatics (Basic Swimming). Wiseman’s Books Trading, Inc.

Athnet Scholarship (N.D.). History of Competitive swimming. Retrieved from

https://www.athleticscholarships.net/swimming-history.htm

American Red Cross (2017). Recognizing and responding to aquatic emergencies. Retrieved
from https://streamlinehealth.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/10/Basic_Water_Rescue_Guide_2017.pd

Let’s Check

Activity 22. In this task you are going to demonstrate your deep
understanding about the basic water rescue. In the table below, list when and how
the following rescue techniques should be utilized.

Rescue techniques When How

Reach

Wade

Tow
Throw

Slope entry assists

Let’s Analyze

1. Activity 23. In this task you are going to demonstrate your deep analysis
about the basic water rescue. In the table below, underline the correct type of
swimmer and list 3 implications for the rescuer.

Type of swimmer Implications

- Non-Swimmer 1.
- Weak Swimmer
- Injured Swimmer 2.
- Unconscious
3.
- Non-Swimmer 1.
- Weak Swimmer
- Injured Swimmer 2.
- Unconscious
3.
 - Non-Swimmer 1.
- Weak Swimmer
- Injured Swimmer 2.
- Unconscious
3.
- Non-Swimmer 1.
- Weak Swimmer
- Injured Swimmer 2.
- Unconscious
3.

In a Nutshell

Activity 24. Finally, in this task you are going to demonstrate your deep
knowledge about the basic water rescue. Answer the questions below on the
following scenario:

“You are at a river bank where you have observed 3 swimmers (a male adult,
a teenage female, and a young male) happily swimming in the river. You notice that
they are quite far from the riverbank, and they are not wearing lifejackets, so you
decide to keep an eye out. Several hundred meters away is the river’s boat ramp,
which is getting very busy with boats being loaded onto the river, and setting off
along the water.

A short time later, a current begins to flow along the river, and you observe
the 3 swimmers suddenly start to experience difficulty in the water, which has
become disturbed by the current. All 3 swimmers are not wearing lifejackets, and
appear to be distressed and fatigued as they signal for help, approximately 50m from
the edge of the river.

All 3 swimmers display a vertical position, with vigorous arm movements, and
very minimal leg action, as they struggle to stay afloat. The water is accessible from
the river bank, which appears to have a 30cm drop to the water level. The water is
murky in appearance, and you are unsure of the depth at the river’s edge. Among a
riverbank of scattered bystanders, you quickly alert 2 adults (one male and one
female), who are unpacking equipment from their vehicle in the nearby carpark;
among the equipment are 2 lifejackets, a canoe oar, and a small esky lid.

The female states that she is a strong swimmer, and is confident to enter the
water; the male is more hesitant, but says he will coordinate what needs to be done
from land. As you start to relay instructions to the 2 bystanders to coordinate the
rescue, a distressed middle-aged woman identifies herself as the mother of the
children, and hysterically pleads with you to save her children and her husband.

1. What are the immediate dangers to yourself, and other rescuers that need to
be considered before attempting to carry out a rescue?
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2. Detail the instructions you would give to the other bystanders who have
offered their assistance in carrying out the rescue, as well as the role you
would assume for yourself. (Remember: while only one of them was confident
about entering the water, the other was happy to coordinate some tasks on
land).
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Q&A LIST. This section allows you to list down all emerging questions or issues
pertaining to the entire lessons of this course.

Do you have any question for clarification?

Questions/Issues Answers

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

KEYWORDS INDEX.

This portion includes all the terms describe in this entire course that helps you for
recalling concepts.

Throw Chest tow Head tow Slope entry Non-swimmer

Tow Conscious Sculling Buoyancy Propulsion

swimmer

Breathing Dead man’s Events Unconscious Distress

float swimmer situation
Distress signal Near-drowning Secondary Weak Victim
drowning swimmer