RE: [Paddlewise] Drowning Swimmers

  I'm with Don all the way on the importance of not putting yourself at
risk.  While there is great moral and humanitarian value, if not a moral
imperative, in attempting to save a life, it is all for naught if the
attempt creates another victim.
  Drowning/struggling victims in the water are frequently panicked and very
unpredictable and can cause serious problems for even experienced
lifeguards/rescuers.  I have had panicked victims literally attempt to
"climb" on top of me in their struggles to escape the water.  As a lifeguard
one of the primary things I was taught to do while approaching a victim,
whether in a watercraft or by swimming, was to attempt to establish control
using voice, eye-contact, and if need be, physical force.  As a rescuer your
aim should be to remain in total control of the situation.  The victim
cannot and should not typically be relied upon to behave in a rational and
predictable fashion.
  Thankfully, the worst does not always happen, but there can be a lot of
value in at least understanding and planning for what _can_ happen.  One
scenario Don mentioned was (paraphrasing) - "What will you do if the victim
panics, flips your kayak, and causes you to wet exit because they won't
release their grip on the hull?"  Now let's add cold water and 2-3 ft waves.


1. Abandon the effort and head for shore alone?
2. Swim the kayak with the clinging victim to shore?
3. Get the victim off the kayak and swim them to shore?
4. Get the victim off the kayak, re-enter, and place them under control for
a yak-assisted rescue?

  Obviously, there's no single right answer - and a lot of variables to
confound the issue.  

A familiar adage among lifeguards is "Reach, Throw, Row, Go".  If attempting
to perform a kayak rescue, the prudent paddler should know ahead of time
whether they have the skills and capability to either continue or to
bail-out if the rescue goes awry. Being in the water with a victim is
serious business and to be avoided if any other method is possible.

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska

> -----Original Message-----
> From: superiorvisions_at_att.net [mailto:superiorvisions_at_att.net]
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 6:11 AM
> To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Drowning Swimmers
> 
> 
> Hello Fellow Paddle Wisers,
> 
> During classes I teach students the importance of 
> helping drowning or struggling swimmers on open water.
> 
> I think the first issue is to not put yourself at risk. 
snip
> 
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