what to do if things go wrong

What to do if someone gets in trouble

Do not go into the sea.

Call the emergency services on 999 or 112.

Don’t wait to see if the situation improves, don’t worry that you’re calling unnecessarily- just call.

Tell them where you are, tell them what is happening, tell them how many people are in trouble.

Give any other information that may be useful- (any access issues or hazards etc).

Keep a continuous watch on the swimmer in trouble. If possible, reassure them, calmly, encourage them to swim or float.

Once help is on the way, you can attempt a (shore based) rescue - but only if it's safe to do so.

Locate the safety equipment- i.e throw bags/life rings or both.

If there are others present, then rather than everyone running around in a panic, get organised:

get the person on the phone to keep the emergency services updated (has the swimmer been swept to a different location? Are there more people in the water? etc).

get the most capable people throwing the life rings or throw bags.
get someone to run for the defib.
get someone to fetch and deploy a self-warming blanket if there is a danger of hypothermia.
get someone gathering dryrobes/warm clothing near the rescue spot.

What is needed will vary - but remain calm and organised.

what to do if you rescue someone

If you are in any doubt at all about the health of the swimmer, call the emergency services immediately.

If the swimmer has been in the water long enough to get in any way cold, then aim to get them warm.

Pat (not rub) them dry and try to get them out of their wet clothes and get them into or under something warming- be that jumpers, dryrobes, or a self-warming blanket. If the person is mobile, try to get them moving. Try to get out of the weather and offer warm drinks.

Do not allow the person to go home alone and make sure someone is there to keep an eye on them.

Any dizziness, disorientation, lack of balance, breathing issues, or if the swimmer has been submerged,

call for help.

call 911 or 112

What to do if you get in trouble

it is super important to resist the urge to panic or thrash about gasping - as this can lead to drowning.
try to stay calm. The RNLI advice to help you remain calm is to FLOAT TO LIVE

float to live safety information from the RNLI

RNLI advice:

The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally.

You can gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to.

Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability –it's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently.

Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

Beforehand: practise floating in a supervised location like a swimming pool.

( RNLI advice)