Final answer:
The easy way to remember the priorities for water rescues is 'throw, reach, row'. This suggests a progression of actions to take to safely assist someone who has fallen into water. It emphasizes the rescuer's safety and the victim's quick removal from the water before administering CPR.
Step-by-step explanation:
An easy way to remember priorities for rescuing someone who has fallen into the water is throw, reach, row! To elaborate, when someone is in trouble in the water, it is critical to approach the rescue in a way that doesn't put the rescuer at unnecessary risk. The phrase 'throw, reach, row' represents a hierarchy of actions that should be taken:
- Throw: The first action is to throw a life-saving device to the person in the water if one is readily available.
- Reach: If the person is close by, try to reach out to them with a long object or by extending an arm or leg without entering the water.
- Row: If the person is too far to reach and it's safe to do so, attempt to row to them in a boat or similar vessel.
It is also important to dismiss common myths such as believing that people will always call for help and wave their arms when drowning. Many times, those who are drowning are unable to shout or signal for help. Also, before performing CPR, it is essential that the person is first removed from the water to a stable ground, as CPR is ineffective while the person is still submerged.