Safety equipment

How to Make a Reaching Assist

If you want to assist someone in trouble in the water and you can reach the victim with an object, you should:

Stay out of the water.

Brace yourself on a pool deck, pier surface or shoreline.

Reach out to the victim using any object that extends your reach, such as a pole, an oar, a paddle, a tree branch, a shirt, a belt or a towel.

When the victim grasps the object, slowly and carefully pull him or her to safety. Keep your body low and lean back to avoid being pulled into the water.

How to Make a Throwing Assist

If you want to assist someone in trouble in the water using a throwing device, you should:

Get into a stride position. The leg opposite your throwing arm is forward. This helps maintain balance during the throw.

Step on the end of the line with your forward foot. Avoid stepping on the coiled line with your other foot.

Shout to get the victim’s attention. Make eye contact and say that you are going to throw the object now. Tell the victim to grab it.

Bend your knees and throw the object to the victim. Try to throw the object upwind or up current, just over the victim’s head, so the line drops within reach.

When the victim has grasped the object or the line, slowly pull him or her to safety.

Keep your weight low and back. Lean away from the water as you bring the victim to safety.

If the object does not reach the victim, quickly pull the line back in and throw it again. Try to keep the line from tangling, but do not waste time trying to re-coil it. If the object is a throw bag, partially fill the bag with some water and throw it again.

Types of Safety Equipment

Heaving Jug

A homemade, emergency throwing device made from a gallon plastic container with one-half inch of water inside and a line attached to the handle.

Ring Buoy

A buoyant ring with 40 to 50 feet of lightweight line attached. The ring is thrown by the rescuer to someone in trouble in the water. An object on the other end of the line prevents it from slipping out of the rescuer’s grasp.

Rescue Tube

A vinyl, foam-filled, floating support approximately 45 to 54 inches long. It has a towline with a shoulder strap attached. It may be used as a throwing device.

Heaving Line

A strong, lightweight line, 40 to 50 feet long. A buoyant, weighted object on one end helps direct the line out to the victim when it is thrown.

Throw-Rope Bag

A nylon bag containing polypropylene line that floats. It is a throwing device often used to rescue someone who has fallen from a boat.

Rescue Buoy

A hard plastic buoy with handles on both sides. It has a six-foot towline with a shoulder strap attached. It is used by waterfront lifeguards when making a swimming rescue.

Reaching Pole

A pole 10 to 15 feet long, made of bamboo, aluminum or fiberglass, that is extended into the water to someone in trouble. A long branch or fishing pole could serve the same purpose.

Lifelines

Buoyed lines that mark and separate swimming and diving areas, shallow and deep water.

Warning Flags

Flags of various colors displayed to describe safety conditions in the water. Here are some examples:

• Green Flag–safe, open for swimming
• Red Flag–unsafe, closed for swimming
• Yellow Flag–caution, limited swimming because of currents or other conditions

First Aid Kit

Telephone

Shepherd’s Crook

A long, lightweight pole with a blunted hook at one end. It is used as a reaching pole or to encircle an unconscious victim in the water.

Backboard

A board used to immobilize a victim with suspected head, neck or back injuries. Straps help avoid further injury by keeping the victim from moving.

Posted Rules

Rules posted near supervised swimming areas. They contain facility rules and warnings.

Safety Post

A post with reaching and throwing devices attached. It is usually located at home pools or private ponds.