Red Cross Lifeguard Rescues
General procedures for a water emergency - ANS1. Activate EAP
2. Enter the water, if necessary
3. Perform an appropriate rescue
4. Move the victim to a safe exit point
5. remove the victim from the water
6. provide emergency care as needed
7. Report, advise, and release
slide-in entry - ANSslower and useful in shallow water, crowded pools or when a victim has a
head neck or spinal injury close to the side of the pool;
1. sit down on the edge facing the water. place the rescue tube next to you or in the water
2. lower your body into the water feet first
3. retrieve the rescue tube
4. place the rescue tube across your chest with the tube under your armpits, focus on the
victim and begin the approach
stride jump entry - ANSonly if the water is at least 5 feet deep and you are no more than 3
feet above the water:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep the line from getting caught on something when jumping into
the water
3. leap into the water with one leg forward and the other leg back
4. lean slightly forward with you chest ahead of your hips, and focus on the victim when you
enter the water
5. squeeze or scissor your legs together right after they make contact with the water for
upward thrust
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
compact jump entry - ANSthis can be used from the deck or from a height, depending on the
depth of the water; above 3 feet from the surface of the water, the water should be at least 5
feet deep:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep it from getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other equipment
when jumping into the water
3. jump out and away from the lifeguard chair, pool deck or pier. in a wave pool, time the
jump to land on the crest of the wave
4. bend your knees and keep your feet together and flat to absorb the shock if you hit the
bottom. do not point your toes or keep your legs straight or stiff
5. let the buoyancy of the rescue tube bring you back to the surface
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
run and swim entry - ANSenter the water from a gradual slope-zero depth area such as a
shoreline or wave pool:
, 1. hold the rescue tube and excess line above the water, lift your knees high while running to
avoid falling
2. once you cant run anymore, put the tube across your chest and begin swimming; dont
dive into shallow water
front crawl approach - ANSwith the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in control, front
crawl towards the victim
breaststroke approach - ANSwith the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in control,
breaststroke towards the victim
long distance approach - ANSallow the rescue tube to trail behind you and reposition it in
front of you before contacting the victim
walking approach - ANSin shallow water, hold the tube beside you and walk quickly,
repositioning the tube before contacting the victim
simple assist - ANSused in shallow water; helping a person to stand, or submerged victims
that are within reach:
1. approach the person who needs help while keeping the rescue tube between you and the
person
2. reach across the tube and grasp the person at the armpit to help the person maintain his
or her balance: if the person is underwater grasp the person under the armpits with both
hands and help him or her stand up
3. assist the person to the exit point
reaching assist - ANSused with a distressed swimmer who is close to the side of the pool;
extend rescue tube within victim's grasp, be sure to have a sturdy stance (or ly down) when
reaching toward the victim:
1. extend the tube to teh victim, keeping your body weight on your back foot and crouching
to avoid being pulled in the water: remove the strap if you need to reach the victim by
holding the strap in one hand and the tube in the other
2. tell the victim to grab the tube
3. slowly pull the victim to safety
active victim front rescue - ANSused for a drowning victim who is facing toward you:
1. approach the victim from the front
2. as you near the victim, grab the rescue tube from under your arms with both hands and
begin to push the tube out in front of you, maintain momentum by kicking
3. thrust the rescue tube slightly under the water and into the victim's chest, keeping the tube
between you and the victim; encourage the victim to grab the rescue tube and hold onto it
4. keep kicking; fully extend your arms and move the victim to a safe exit point.
active victim rear rescue - ANSused for a drowning victim who is facing away from you:
1. approach the victim from behind with the rescue tube across your chest
2. with both arms, reach under the victim's armpits and grasp the shoulders firmly. tell them
you are here to help
3. using your chest, squeeze the rescue tube between your chest and the victims back
General procedures for a water emergency - ANS1. Activate EAP
2. Enter the water, if necessary
3. Perform an appropriate rescue
4. Move the victim to a safe exit point
5. remove the victim from the water
6. provide emergency care as needed
7. Report, advise, and release
slide-in entry - ANSslower and useful in shallow water, crowded pools or when a victim has a
head neck or spinal injury close to the side of the pool;
1. sit down on the edge facing the water. place the rescue tube next to you or in the water
2. lower your body into the water feet first
3. retrieve the rescue tube
4. place the rescue tube across your chest with the tube under your armpits, focus on the
victim and begin the approach
stride jump entry - ANSonly if the water is at least 5 feet deep and you are no more than 3
feet above the water:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep the line from getting caught on something when jumping into
the water
3. leap into the water with one leg forward and the other leg back
4. lean slightly forward with you chest ahead of your hips, and focus on the victim when you
enter the water
5. squeeze or scissor your legs together right after they make contact with the water for
upward thrust
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
compact jump entry - ANSthis can be used from the deck or from a height, depending on the
depth of the water; above 3 feet from the surface of the water, the water should be at least 5
feet deep:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep it from getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other equipment
when jumping into the water
3. jump out and away from the lifeguard chair, pool deck or pier. in a wave pool, time the
jump to land on the crest of the wave
4. bend your knees and keep your feet together and flat to absorb the shock if you hit the
bottom. do not point your toes or keep your legs straight or stiff
5. let the buoyancy of the rescue tube bring you back to the surface
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
run and swim entry - ANSenter the water from a gradual slope-zero depth area such as a
shoreline or wave pool:
, 1. hold the rescue tube and excess line above the water, lift your knees high while running to
avoid falling
2. once you cant run anymore, put the tube across your chest and begin swimming; dont
dive into shallow water
front crawl approach - ANSwith the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in control, front
crawl towards the victim
breaststroke approach - ANSwith the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in control,
breaststroke towards the victim
long distance approach - ANSallow the rescue tube to trail behind you and reposition it in
front of you before contacting the victim
walking approach - ANSin shallow water, hold the tube beside you and walk quickly,
repositioning the tube before contacting the victim
simple assist - ANSused in shallow water; helping a person to stand, or submerged victims
that are within reach:
1. approach the person who needs help while keeping the rescue tube between you and the
person
2. reach across the tube and grasp the person at the armpit to help the person maintain his
or her balance: if the person is underwater grasp the person under the armpits with both
hands and help him or her stand up
3. assist the person to the exit point
reaching assist - ANSused with a distressed swimmer who is close to the side of the pool;
extend rescue tube within victim's grasp, be sure to have a sturdy stance (or ly down) when
reaching toward the victim:
1. extend the tube to teh victim, keeping your body weight on your back foot and crouching
to avoid being pulled in the water: remove the strap if you need to reach the victim by
holding the strap in one hand and the tube in the other
2. tell the victim to grab the tube
3. slowly pull the victim to safety
active victim front rescue - ANSused for a drowning victim who is facing toward you:
1. approach the victim from the front
2. as you near the victim, grab the rescue tube from under your arms with both hands and
begin to push the tube out in front of you, maintain momentum by kicking
3. thrust the rescue tube slightly under the water and into the victim's chest, keeping the tube
between you and the victim; encourage the victim to grab the rescue tube and hold onto it
4. keep kicking; fully extend your arms and move the victim to a safe exit point.
active victim rear rescue - ANSused for a drowning victim who is facing away from you:
1. approach the victim from behind with the rescue tube across your chest
2. with both arms, reach under the victim's armpits and grasp the shoulders firmly. tell them
you are here to help
3. using your chest, squeeze the rescue tube between your chest and the victims back
