• Higher risk for rescuer, but fast and simple

• Fast, simple, extremely risky

• Requires rescue swimmer, rescue vest, locking carabiner, throw rope and belayer; vector pullers, backup belayers and landing zone helpers are useful

• Very difficult to swim victim to shore

• Downstream safety is essential

• • Redundant downstream safety is essential

• Victim psychology

• • Requires fins or nearcompetitive swimming ability

• • Normal: able and willing to assist in their own rescue

• Recommended only for unconscious victims where no other option exists

• • Panicked / aggressive: extremely dangerous

• Maintain in-line c-spine control to the extent possible and bring victim face up

• • Near (or counter) panic: initially nearly unresponsive, then becomes panicked

• • Crossed wrist method for fast moving water

• • Unresponsive: assume Cspine injury for unconscious victims

• • “Body sandwich” for deep slow moving water V-lowers

• Timing for water entry is key, and takes practice

V-lowers

• • Hold 10 to 20 feet of rope on entry (toss downstream)

• Slower, higher risk, more complex

• • Entry ferry angle is key

• Requires two belay teams, rescue vest, rescue swimmer, downstream safety, Locking carabiner and at least two throw ropes

• • Time entry so as to ferry di-rectly to victim

• Allows direct maneuvering to rescue location

• • Avoid hovering

• Hand signals and safety plan

• Speak to victim

• • One hand waving in air means “help me”

• • Splash and back away for self protection

• • Point with one or two hands for directional changes

• • Rescuer safety is highest priority

• Arching back to plane to surface

• Turn victim and hold to PFD, or execute cross chest or surf carry

• Hands behind head to help create an air pocket

• Rescuer and victim belayed in to shore

• Single rope technique for direct lower

• • Vector-puller on shore helpful

• Higher water volumes and deeper water can overwhelm the rescuer

• Very effective as a wading assist

• Provides strong support for rescuer forced to work upstream of significant hazards