“After I almost drowned, I decided I would never again be weaker than water, so I became a lifeguard. On my first day of training, my instructor told me that there are going to be times when you'll see someone in trouble. You're going to want to rush in there and do whatever you can to save them, but you have to stop yourself. Because there are some people you can't save. Cause those people will thrash and struggle, and try to take you down with them.”
Great for moody television, but that seems like horrible advice for lifeguards lol
I know there's a phenomenon of a drowning person flailing and bringing the lifeguard down with them, but I'm not sure you can tell from the shore that that's gonna happen
you won't be able to tell, but at least when I was taught ages ago, they advised to call out verbally before approaching, and then circle around to approach from the back to prevent them pushing you under in an attempt to draw a breath. and that's after trying to find other ways to save them than getting in yourself
When I lifeguarded we were taught to protect ourselves as well. Not just approach cautiously but physically keep people from drowning you and be able to stay out if reach when necessary.
Reach, throw, row, go is what we were taught when I was a kid.
Use a stick or something for them to grab if you're close enough
Throw something buoyant attached to a rope to tow them back
Row out in a boat and use a paddle/buoy/life jacket for them to grab and tow them back, especially if in a canoe, they'll capsize you trying to get in.
Finally, if nothing else works, go and do the stuff you said
As a former lifeguard, and an EMT, "do not go unless safe" is not only good advice, it's basically drilled into you constantly.
It's far too easy to get into the "I can save anyone" mindset and hurt yourself.
Sometimes you are off shift and don't have the proper personal safety equipment. Sometimes the patient is actively violent. Sometimes the situation is such that going out yourself just creates two patients.
You ALWAYS, stop and look at the situation and think "scene safe?" Before doing ANYTHING for a rescue.
Sure, most city pool lifeguards are in a super controlled situation, and they have floatation devices and everything needed to help, but you should still take that two seconds to think before you go.
Trying to save a drowning person is incredibly dangerous, a panicking person will grab on and flail and pull you under until you are too exhausted to stay afloat yourself, even if you are a strong swimmer.
That said...I don't think I would be able to just stand and watch either, even knowing the above.
Paradoxically, this kind of stuff makes me kind of glad I'm a terrible swimmer. Like, I would never jump into a river to save a drowning person but at the same time I don't have to feel bad about it because I know that I wouldn't be able to help that way, and instead of one casualty you'd just have two.
(I would of course try to call for help, look for ways/tools to pull them out etc.)
This is America. We have a significant number of people that can’t read and words are everywhere.
Some of that comes with welcoming those from other countries. We are a nation of immigrants. The drowning victims in this case were from Honduras. I feel for the children. They likely lost both their parents in this drowning.
Lots of people never learn. I only learned because the apartment complex behind my house as a kid had a pool and my friends and I would hop the fence and use it. Some kid pushed me into the deep end one day and I learned real quick.
Now as an adult, we've put our kid in swim classes but that wasn't something our families had the resources to do when we were kids. My wife still doesnt know how to swim.
I can swim, but not good enough to rescue someone else, and definitely not in a stream.
I have a weird lack of buoyancy in my legs that makes it extremely exhausting just to keep myself affloat, so I never bothered pursuing it further.
I do know how to float, but it only works in salt water. I can however easily dive to the bottom of any pool without effort, so I guess I've got that going for me.
I'm also someone who can't float so swimming is exhausting for me. If I ever have to swim to save my life I'm pretty confident I would die. I stay away from water.
Different countries handle it different ways. Growing up in the UK (Rivers, Reservoirs and being and island) and Qatar (surrounded by the Sea on 3/4 of its mass) swimming lessons were mandatory all the way to High School. I know of a school in Dagenham that continued swimming classes back in 1990’s, but saying that, a lot of governments tend to axe shit left and right so I’d be surprised if it’s still a thing. I still remember the detol smell of washing your feet before getting climbing into the pool in some schools.
As far as I know there’s not a strong current in that area either. It’s the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. According to another article there was a “language barrier” which around here is probably Spanish speakers but honestly could be any nationality. There is a strong Asian community nearby and a ton of others.
I am going to go out on a limb and say alcohol was involved. If that many sober adults were present, one would have pulled out a phone to record it.
Seriously though. RIP, and best hopes for those kids.
26 Comments
SailorFuzz@lemmy.world · 52 pts · 31d
— Ana Spanakopita, BoJack Horseman
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 22 pts · 31d
Great for moody television, but that seems like horrible advice for lifeguards lol
I know there's a phenomenon of a drowning person flailing and bringing the lifeguard down with them, but I'm not sure you can tell from the shore that that's gonna happen
Art3mis@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 21 pts · 30d
Thats also what the big floaty thing is for. Life gaurds are very good swimmers.
Sylvartas@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 30d
You'd also think that a lifeguard would be specifically trained to work with this, and also equipped with some floatation device to help
dreugeworst@lemmy.ml · 9 pts · 30d
you won't be able to tell, but at least when I was taught ages ago, they advised to call out verbally before approaching, and then circle around to approach from the back to prevent them pushing you under in an attempt to draw a breath. and that's after trying to find other ways to save them than getting in yourself
Medic8eme@piefed.ca · 8 pts · 30d
When I lifeguarded we were taught to protect ourselves as well. Not just approach cautiously but physically keep people from drowning you and be able to stay out if reach when necessary.
Linktank@lemmy.today · 6 pts · 30d
I was told it was okay to knock someone OUT if it meant saving their life and protecting your own.
Omgpwnies@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 30d
Reach, throw, row, go is what we were taught when I was a kid.
Use a stick or something for them to grab if you're close enough
Throw something buoyant attached to a rope to tow them back
Row out in a boat and use a paddle/buoy/life jacket for them to grab and tow them back, especially if in a canoe, they'll capsize you trying to get in.
Finally, if nothing else works, go and do the stuff you said
LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 29d
As a former lifeguard, and an EMT, "do not go unless safe" is not only good advice, it's basically drilled into you constantly.
It's far too easy to get into the "I can save anyone" mindset and hurt yourself.
Sometimes you are off shift and don't have the proper personal safety equipment. Sometimes the patient is actively violent. Sometimes the situation is such that going out yourself just creates two patients.
You ALWAYS, stop and look at the situation and think "scene safe?" Before doing ANYTHING for a rescue.
Sure, most city pool lifeguards are in a super controlled situation, and they have floatation devices and everything needed to help, but you should still take that two seconds to think before you go.
TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 31d
Yeah well.
Eddie would go.
bstix@feddit.dk · 27 pts · 31d
That's really tragic. I can't even imagine how horrible it must have been for everyone involved.
Like, I know I can't swim for shit, but I also wouldn't be able to just watch someone drown.
natecox@programming.dev · 39 pts · 31d
Trying to save a drowning person is incredibly dangerous, a panicking person will grab on and flail and pull you under until you are too exhausted to stay afloat yourself, even if you are a strong swimmer.
That said...I don't think I would be able to just stand and watch either, even knowing the above.
darkwing_duck@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 30d
I recall being taught to dive if this happens. They'll let go. I've never had to test this strategy.
Bonifratz@piefed.zip · 7 pts · 31d
Paradoxically, this kind of stuff makes me kind of glad I'm a terrible swimmer. Like, I would never jump into a river to save a drowning person but at the same time I don't have to feel bad about it because I know that I wouldn't be able to help that way, and instead of one casualty you'd just have two.
(I would of course try to call for help, look for ways/tools to pull them out etc.)
brezel@piefed.social · -9 pts · 31d
how is that possible? i know zero people who can't swim and i live in a country with no access to the sea or anything.
BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 31d
This is America. We have a significant number of people that can't read and words are everywhere.
partial_accumen@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 29d
Some of that comes with welcoming those from other countries. We are a nation of immigrants. The drowning victims in this case were from Honduras. I feel for the children. They likely lost both their parents in this drowning.
CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 31d
Lots of people never learn. I only learned because the apartment complex behind my house as a kid had a pool and my friends and I would hop the fence and use it. Some kid pushed me into the deep end one day and I learned real quick.
Now as an adult, we've put our kid in swim classes but that wasn't something our families had the resources to do when we were kids. My wife still doesnt know how to swim.
bstix@feddit.dk · 8 pts · 31d
I can swim, but not good enough to rescue someone else, and definitely not in a stream.
I have a weird lack of buoyancy in my legs that makes it extremely exhausting just to keep myself affloat, so I never bothered pursuing it further.
I do know how to float, but it only works in salt water. I can however easily dive to the bottom of any pool without effort, so I guess I've got that going for me.
ski11erboi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 30d
I'm also someone who can't float so swimming is exhausting for me. If I ever have to swim to save my life I'm pretty confident I would die. I stay away from water.
brezel@piefed.social · -1 pts · 31d
ok, guess i read that wrong then ^^
digitalFatteh@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 30d
Different countries handle it different ways. Growing up in the UK (Rivers, Reservoirs and being and island) and Qatar (surrounded by the Sea on 3/4 of its mass) swimming lessons were mandatory all the way to High School. I know of a school in Dagenham that continued swimming classes back in 1990’s, but saying that, a lot of governments tend to axe shit left and right so I’d be surprised if it’s still a thing. I still remember the detol smell of washing your feet before getting climbing into the pool in some schools.
farmgineer@nord.pub · 23 pts · 31d
Not "The Ohio River" but "AN Ohio River, namely the Scioto". Two different rivers.
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 30d
If I jumped in to save a drowning person all that would happen is two people would drown.
TheWilliamist@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 31d
As far as I know there’s not a strong current in that area either. It’s the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. According to another article there was a “language barrier” which around here is probably Spanish speakers but honestly could be any nationality. There is a strong Asian community nearby and a ton of others.
Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 30d
I am going to go out on a limb and say alcohol was involved. If that many sober adults were present, one would have pulled out a phone to record it. Seriously though. RIP, and best hopes for those kids.