Water safety Tips- know what to do if you get in trouble

Kapiti Learn To Swim
Nov 17
2 min read

Whether you’ve fallen into a harbour, river or lake or are caught in a rip, the basics remain the same.

1. Before you hit the water - if applicable and if you have time - protect your head with your arms and protect your other organs by hunching over.

2. Stay calm and rational. This is the hardest bit. You’ve just fallen into the water unexpectedly or find yourself in a situation you weren’t planning on being in. Your brain will want to panic. Don’t listen to it. You are in control. You can make rational decisions.

3. Breathe. And breathe deeply. This will help you stay calm and help your body relax. When your muscles are tense, they don’t float as well. So control your breathing and begin to relax your body.

4. Roll onto your back. This is the best way to float. You can pretend you’re lying on a comfy bed. Keep your ears in the water, chin slightly up and look straight up at the sky. Your eyes help your body stay flat.

5. Float and look around at your surroundings. If you’re in a river, go feet first so you can avoid hazards like rocks and branches. Floating sounds easier than it actually is, but here are some tips: keep elbows out of the water and shoulders under, while gently sculling your hands back and forth in the water, and keep your palms and forearms pushing down on the water. If you’re fully clothed, don’t worry about taking them off. If you’re wearing gumboots, definitely kick them off.

6. Signal for help. You need to let people know you’re in trouble. Make sure not to make it look like you’re waving. Raise an arm above the water straight up and try to keep it up. This will be harder than you think because it changes the centre of buoyancy. Shout if there’s someone close by.