✂️ Cut along the dashed lines
Reach · Throw · Don't Go
1. REACH. Stay on land or the deck. Extend a pole, oar, towel, or your arm and pull them in.
2. THROW. Too far to reach? Throw anything that floats — ring buoy, cooler lid, ball, life jacket.
3. DON'T GO. Do not swim out unless you are trained AND holding flotation. Most would-be rescuers drown too.
📞 Then CALL 911 · start CPR if trained
WaterWiseKids.com
Reach · Throw · Don't Go
1. REACH. Stay on land or the deck. Extend a pole, oar, towel, or your arm and pull them in.
2. THROW. Too far to reach? Throw anything that floats — ring buoy, cooler lid, ball, life jacket.
3. DON'T GO. Do not swim out unless you are trained AND holding flotation. Most would-be rescuers drown too.
📞 Then CALL 911 · start CPR if trained
WaterWiseKids.com
The Rescue Rule: Reach, Throw, Don't Go
- REACH from safety first. Lie down or brace low on the deck, dock, or shoreline so you cannot be pulled in. Extend a reaching pole, paddle, branch, towel, or your arm and draw the person to the edge.
- THROW if they are out of reach. Toss anything buoyant — a ring buoy, life jacket, boogie board, cooler lid, empty jug, or even a beach ball. If the object has a rope, throw past the person and pull the line toward them.
- DON'T GO in unless trained. A panicking person will climb over anyone who reaches them, pushing the rescuer under. Enter the water only if you are trained in water rescue and carrying flotation to put between you and them.
- CALL and CARE. Send someone to call 911 immediately — or call yourself the moment the person is out. Begin CPR right away if they are unresponsive and you are trained.
What to Reach or Throw With (Look Around You)
- At a pool: the shepherd's-crook reaching pole and ring buoy on the fence, a pool noodle, a kickboard, or a lane rope.
- At the beach or lake: a boogie board, surfboard, paddle, beach ball, cooler, or an inflatable — anything that floats and can be pushed or thrown.
- On a boat or dock: the throwable Type IV cushion or ring buoy (keep it on deck, not stowed), an oar, a boat hook, or a coiled line.
- Nothing floats nearby? Form a human chain from shore — people hold wrists, the lead person stays in shallow water only. Never break contact with the ground.
Why "Don't Go" Saves Lives
- Drowning people cannot help their own rescue. The instinctive drowning response leaves them unable to grab a rope, wave, or call out — and unable to let go of you.
- Would-be rescuers drown too. Aquatic rescue deaths of parents and bystanders are a documented pattern — especially in rip currents and cold or open water.
- Rip current? Do not swim out. Throw flotation and tell the swimmer to float and go with the current, then angle in. Call 911 and a lifeguard.
- Teach kids the words: "Reach or throw, don't go — then yell for a grown-up." A child's job is to get help, never to enter the water.
- The best rescue is prevention: barriers, active supervision, life jackets, and swim lessons stop the emergency before it starts.