Water Rescue: Reach, Throw, Don’t Go
A person in trouble in the water is struggling to stay afloat and may grab and pull you under. Many would-be rescuers drown. The safest approach is reach, throw, don’t go: help from land, and let trained rescuers go in.
- Construction
- Outdoor Workers
- Families
Step 1: Call for help
- Call 911 or have someone call, and tell them exactly where you are. Use Calling 911 from a Jobsite for site addresses.
- Keep your eyes on the person and shout reassurance: “Help is coming. Grab this.”
Step 2: Reach
- Lie down or brace yourself, and reach with something long: a pole, oar, branch, ladder, fishing rod or shovel handle.
- Keep your weight low and anchored to something solid, so you aren’t pulled in.
- Pull the person to safety hand over hand.
Step 3: Throw
- Throw something that floats: a life ring, throw bag, cooler, empty jug, spare tire, or a rope with a float tied to the end.
- Throw it past the person so the line can be pulled to them, or toss it within reach. Throwing rope bags are made for this.
- Never tie a rope around your own body, and don’t hold a rope in a fast current.
Step 4: Don’t go
- Don’t jump in to save someone unless you’re trained in water rescue, have a life jacket and a plan, and it’s the only chance. Panicked victims climb on rescuers.
- Don’t go in after someone in moving water, flooded areas, low-head dams, or under ice. Currents are stronger than they look.
- Don’t enter a trench, sump, tank or pit with water in it without proper rescue gear. See Trench Emergencies.
If you must enter the water, wear a life jacket, keep something that floats between you and the person, and stay out of their grasp.
On the job
- Workers on or over water must wear life jackets and have rescue equipment (such as ring buoys and a rescue boat) as OSHA’s rules require. See Working Over Water.
- Plan for rescue before the work, not after someone falls in. Know who calls, who throws and who reaches.
- Post emergency numbers and keep ring buoys, throw bags and ladders where they can be reached.
- Be careful near flooded roads, trenches and storm drains. See Flooded Roads.
Cold water
Cold water causes cold shock in the first minute: gasping and loss of breath control. After several minutes, arms and legs stop working well, and hypothermia sets in over time. People who fall in should keep their head up, float to control breathing, and then work toward safety. See Ice Safety and Cold Stress.
After the rescue
- Check if the person is breathing. If not, call 911 if you haven’t, and start CPR. See CPR & AED.
- Get them out of wet clothes and wrap them in dry blankets or coats.
- Place them in the recovery position if unresponsive but breathing. See First Aid Basics.
- Everyone who was in the water or nearly drowned needs medical care, even if they feel fine, because water in the lungs can cause problems hours later.
Water rescue checklist
- 911 called with exact location
- Reached with a pole, or thrown a float
- Rescuer anchored; no one jumped in
- Rescued person warmed and breathing checked
- Medical care for everyone who was in the water
Standards & references
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