Water Self-Rescue
For those unfamiliar with swimming who accidentally fall into the water, self-rescue is possible. First, do not panic after falling in; remain calm. Assume a supine position with your head tilted back and your mouth facing upwards, allowing your mouth and nose to remain above water for breathing. Exhale shallowly and inhale deeply to keep your body afloat while awaiting rescue. Do not raise your hands or struggle, as this will only cause you to sink.
For swimmers who are drowning due to calf muscle cramps, remain calm and call for help immediately. Simultaneously, curl your body into a ball and float to the surface. Take a deep breath, immerse your face in the water, and forcefully pull the big toe of the cramped leg forward and upward, keeping it upright. Continue pulling until the pain subsides and the cramp stops. After one episode, the same area can recur, so massage the painful area thoroughly and slowly swim to shore. Once ashore, continue massaging and applying heat to the affected area. If you experience wrist muscle spasms, flex and extend your fingers, and assume a supine position, swimming on both legs.
Water Rescue:
Rescuers should remain calm, remove as much clothing as possible, especially shoes and boots, and quickly swim to the drowning person. For an exhausted drowning person, the rescuer can approach from the head. For a conscious drowning person, the rescuer should approach from behind, using one hand to hold the drowning person's head and neck from behind, and the other hand to grab the drowning person's arm and swim to shore.
If the rescuer is not a skilled swimmer, it is best to carry a lifebuoy, plank, or use a small boat for the rescue, or throw down a rope or bamboo pole for the drowning person to grab onto before towing them ashore.
During the rescue, be careful to prevent the drowning person from clinging tightly to you, which could endanger both of you. If you are grabbed, let go and sink to allow the drowning person to loosen their grip before attempting a rescue.
In general, if you are not specially trained in rescue, the following basic principles should be followed when rescuing a drowning victim with head and spinal injuries: ① Do not remove the injured person from the water; ② Keep the patient afloat with their back facing upwards; ③ Wait for help; ④ Always keep the head and neck level with the back; ⑤ Maintain and support an open airway in the water.
If you find an unconscious drowning victim in warm, shallow water, do not attempt to remove them, as doing so blindly will only worsen the injury. If they are breathing, keep them face up, supporting their back and stabilizing their head and neck. If the water is too deep, too cold, or has a current, or if CPR is necessary, remove them from the water to prevent further injury. It is important to stabilize the patient in the water and remove them smoothly and carefully. Do not attempt to remove the patient from the water unless a backboard or other rigid support can be used as a splint. Many drowning victims are found floating face down and must be turned over.
