WATER RESCUE

MARITIME MEDICINE SPECIALTY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF MATARAM

Presented by: dr. Wahyu Sulistya Affarah, MPH, [Link] on August 26, 2025
INTRODUCTION

• Aquatic environments and activities are a great source of

enjoyment but they are associated with some risks, most
notably that of drowning
• Death by drowning is a leading public health problem in all
countries.
• According to WHO, every year there are 322.000 people
globally who die due to drowning.
• Ideally, everyone should have access to training in water safety,
personal survival, and water rescue
DEFINITION

Water rescue is any incident that

involves the removal of victims
from any body of water other
than a swimming pool
 HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER RESCUE

• Human nature: The “need to do something now” can prompt people to make rescue attempts
without proper training or equipment.

• Environmental: Hazards can involve extreme temperatures; cold affects the ability to think
clearly and hampers fine motor skills; heat exhaustion and dehydration are a concern as well.

• Weather: Accelerates hypothermia. In still water body heat is lost 25 times faster than in air at
the same temperature.

• Aquatic Environment: Be aware of animal life, fish, insects, plant life, seaweed, biohazards,
bacterial, and viral risks.
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER RESCUE:

• Dive option hazards: These include barotrauma, decompression sickness, nitrogen

narcosis, oxygen toxicity, embolism, fatigue, loss of air, and anxiety reactions.

• Ice operation hazards: Cold injuries such as frostbite or hypothermia; thin ice with
sudden immersion reflex or entrapment under ice.

• Swift water operation hazards: Strainers and debris, holes, and obstructions above or
below the water surface.
IMPORTANT !!

Safety of a Rescuer → “Throw, Don’t Go”

Jumping in the water to rescue a victim is the last

resort. Avoid getting into a dangerous situation.
Your safety is a priority.
 WHAT DOES THE RESCUER NEED?

Water Rescue personal protective equipment (PPE): INDIVIDUAL SKILLS

• Wet suits/dry suits/exposure suits • Communication Skills
thermal protection
• Swimming Skills
• Personal Floating Devices (PFDs)
include a whistle • Basic Life Support Skills

• Knife • Wound Care Skills

• Strobe light, or light stick worn by all • Splinting And Bandaging

personnel in or near water or on a Skills
boat
• Iv-line Insertion Skills
• Lifelines, Helmet, Gloves
 RESCUE PLAN OF ACTION
• The first unit on scene sizes up the situation and determines the number and condition
of patients. If rescue is deemed necessary, consider the need for additional personnel
and equipment.
• Secure the immediate area to prevent an increase in victims.
• Assess hazards, location, and number of victims.
• Give a clear and simple instructions to the victim (before commencing extraction)

Ensure firm footing and remember the victim is in duress and please remember
that the victim may pull rescuers into the water.
METHOD OF RESCUE ACTION

The type of water rescue that rescuers use will depend on:
• the condition of the victim (active or passive),
• whether they are on the surface or submerged,
• the possibility of the patient having head, neck, or spinal injuries.
 RESCUER

Does not enter the

Enters the water
water
RESCUER

DOESN’T
ENTER
THE WATER
 RESCUERS DOES NOT ENTER THE WATER
Several rescue methods that can be done by rescuers without entering the water are:
I. Land rescue
When?→ When the victim is close to the water
Why?→ It is the safest rescue method
How?
Follow these steps:
Step 1 →Reach the victim using a long rigid object, such as a stick or pole
Step 2 →Position the rescuer low on the ground so that the victim cannot pull the rescuer into the
water
Step 3 →Pull the victim sideways
RESCUERS DOES NOT ENTER THE WATER

II. Rescue by throwing

When? →If the victim is near water but too far for a rescue reach
Why? →Reduces rescuer's risk as they don't need to swim
How?
Follow these steps:
Step 1 → Get the victim's attention
Step 2 → Throw a buoyant object to the victim (rescue tube)
Step 3 → Instruct the victim to kick their legs and swim to the side
Step 4 → Assist the victim out of the water
 RESCUERS DOES NOT ENTER THE WATER

III. Wade’s rescue

When? →If the victim is near water and in shallow water (the victim may have fallen into a hole)
Why? → Reduces rescuer's risk as they don't need to swim
How?
Follow these steps:
Step 1 → Get the victim's attention
Step 2 → Enter the water carefully,
testing the water depth with a stick/pole (if possible) and use it as a grip for the victim
Step 3 → Give one end of the stick/pole to the victim
Step 4 → Assist the victim out of the water
RESCUER

ENTERS
THE WATER
ENTERS THE WATER

The rescuer must quickly evaluate and consider many factors when choosing a safe way to
enter the water.
Things to consider:
• Start rescuing the victim by approaching them.
• Pay attention to the victim and the location.
• When swimming, always use a buoyancy aid that is securely attached, then approach the
victim.
• When the rescuer is close to the victim, maintain control and adjust the position of the
buoyancy aid, rescue board (or boat) before making contact with the victim, and
• communicate with the victim using concise language.
HOW TO APPROACH THE VICTIM?

There are several ways to approach the victim:

• Walk with a rescue tube for victims in shallow water.
• Swim with a rescue tube to reach the victim.
• Walk some distance and then swim using a rescue tube towards the victim.
• Paddle on a rescue board.
• Use a boat.
RESCUE TECHNIQUES
FOR EACH STAGE
ENTRIES There are several ways to enter the water for rescue purposes:

Slide-in entry:
• Entering by sliding in, is slower compared to other
entry methods, but the safest and
most suitable for almost all conditions.
• This technique is useful in shallow water,
crowded pools, or when the victim has head,
neck, or spinal injuries near the poolside or dock.
 RESCUE TECHNIQUES FOR EACH STAGE
Stride jump
used only when the water depth is at least
5 meters and the rescuer jumps no
more than 3 meters above the water
surface.
Compact jump
this technique can be used when the rescuer
jumps from a ship's deck or a high
place, depending on the water depth.
Run and swim entry
is used when entering the water with
gradual depth changes.
 APPROACHING THE VICTIM

The goal of rescue is to safely, quickly, and effectively move toward the victim in the
water while maintaining control of the rescue tube, attending to the victim, and
monitoring them.

• The rescuer swims to the victim using a modified front crawl or

breaststroke style with the
rescue tube.
The rescuer swims towards the victim with the head upright and the
rescue tube under the armpits or the body (if detached, keep it behind).
• If needed, position the rescue tube in front of the rescuer
before reaching the victim.
Modified front crawl approach
Modified breastroke approach
MOVING THE VICTIM TO A SAFE EXIT POINT

Assist
The goal of an assist is to effectively move the victim to a safe location.

Types of assists:
1. Simple assist:
used to rescue victims in shallow water within reach of the rescuer.
2. Reaching assist from the deck:
to aid victims near the poolside or dock. The rescuer assists the victims from a
deck by offering a rescue tube for the victim to grab.
Simple Assist
 WHY IS ASSISTANCE NEEDED?

• To help a child victim stand up or regain balance, for example, after slipping into
the deep end.
• To bring the victim to the surface when they are submerged in shallow water.
• To enter the water and pull the victim out.
• To bring the victim into or out of a ring/raft.
• Reaching shallow water or stairs.
RESCUING A VICTIM AT OR NEAR THE SURFACE

• The objective of rescuing a victim at or near the surface of the water is

to safely and confidently support the victim using the rescue tube
• The victim’s airway should remain above the water while moving to a
safe removal point
• Assess the victim’s condition and then provide the appropriate care
RESCUING A VICTIM AT OR NEAR THE SURFACE
Use the following rescues:
1. Active victim front rescue → for a drowning victim who is struggling and facing you
2. Active victim rear rescue → for a drowning victim who is struggling and facing
away from you
3. Passive victim front rescue → for a drowning victim who is face-down at or near
the surface in a vertical-to-horizontal position, seems unresponsive and is not
suspected of having a head, neck, or spinal injury, and is facing toward you
Active victim rear rescue
Passive victim front rescue
RESCUING A VICTIM AT OR NEAR THE SURFACE

4. Passive victim rear rescue → for a drowning victim who is face-down at or near
the surface in a vertical-to-horizontal position, seems unresponsive, is not suspected of
having a head, neck, or spinal injury, and is facing away from you
RESCUING A SUBMERGED VICTIM
Rescue goal:
• to effectively rescue the victim by promptly entering the water,
• making contact with the victim,
• bringing the victim to the surface,
• placing the victim on the rescue tube, and
• keeping the airway open.
 RESCUING A SUBMERGED VICTIM

Use the following rescues (based on the victim’s position in the water):
1. Passive submerged victim – shallow water
for a passive victim, submerged in shallow water
2. Submerged victim in deep water
for a victim who is submerged in deep water
Rescuing submerged victim
RESCUING MULTIPLE VICTIMS

There may be situations where a rescuer has to save 2 or 3 victims

simultaneously, for example, several lifeguards have to rescue multiple
victims.
In such situations, if possible, there should be a rescuer
checking underwater to ensure the possibility of submerged
victims.
Multiple-victim rescue
REMOVAL FROM WATER

The objectives are:

• To safely and effectively remove the victim from the water
• Taking the victim’s condition into account
• To provide appropriate care
REMOVAL FROM WATER

• Extrication using a blackboard

REMOVAL FROM WATER

• Quick removal for a small victim

This technique can be used for a small, passive victim from shallow water if a backboard
is not immediately available
• Walking Assist
To help a conscious victim walk out of shallow water
• Beach Drag
On a gradual slope from a waterfront beach or zero-depth [Link] technique is a
safe,easy way to remove someone who is unresponsive or who can not walk from the
water
REMOVAL FROM WATER

Walking assist Beach drag

THANKYOU…