WASHINGTON – It’s the stuff of headlines: A good Samaritan sees someone in trouble in open water, jumps in and saves a life.
Experts warn that is not necessarily the best course of action.
“The first thing you should do is notify 911,” says Roy Fielding, a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, and director of aquatics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
He says instead of jumping into the water, those on the scene should look for items that float like an empty cooler or a spare tire, and throw them out to the person in danger.
Fielding says only those with lifeguard training should try a rescue in the water.
“We are trying to prevent two drownings from taking place,” he says.
The water safety expert says strong swimmers “can be immobilized by even a relatively small person when all of a sudden that person grabs them and ties up their arms.”
He says there are extreme circumstances when a lay person can conduct a successful water rescue, most notably the 1982 Air Florida crash in the icy Potomac River.
But Fielding points to another story: A 1988 boating accident in Mississippi where six people drowned along with the man who tried to rescue them.
The Red Cross says anyone who goes boating should wear a Coast Guard approved life vest. Fielding says it is also a good idea for children fishing near the water, like the 6-year-old who slipped on some rocks and fell into Lake Anna in Louisa County, Virginia on Memorial Day.
“Preparation before the situation takes place is crucial,” he warns, noting one big type of prevention is making sure everybody can swim.
The American Red Cross has a locator for swimming lessons on its website. It also has several new apps that provide instant info on dealing with all kinds of emergency situations, including drownings.
