What to do in an Open Water Swimming Emergency

When you swim in a pool, there are a variety of things that make it inherently safer than swimming in the open water. Some of these include shallower water, the ease of locating a side or safe exit point, safety personnel, and readily available rescue and first aid equipment. This is not always true of open water venues, which often have deeper water, wide open spaces, boats, and, in many cases, fewer if any rescue personnel and equipment. For these reasons it’s important to prepare for your next open water adventure, so you know what to do in case of an emergency.

An ounce of prevention …

As amazing, different, and exciting as open water swimming is, its inherent risks deserve consideration, and you should prepare for any difficulties or emergencies. This includes looking at the venue for conditions and hazards, safety protocols onsite, and equipment for comfort and safety.

• Conditions and Hazards—Do a risk assessment that includes consideration of air and water temperatures, wind, hazards, currents, and marine life. Water too cold can lead to hypothermia and water too warm, hyperthermia; both can lead to life-threatening emergencies. Wind will not only influence temperature, but also surface conditions such as swell and chop, which can lead to motion sickness and a lot off swallowed water. Hazards can be submerged debris or sharp rocks. Currents, including rip currents at the beach, can push you off course and cause you to become exhausted trying to get back on course. Marine life can also create an emergency. Lots of people think of this as sharks or alligators, but it could be high bacteria levels or jellyfish.
• Equipment—During your risk assessment, you might identify conditions that make you rethink your equipment. Maybe you need to add a wetsuit if it’s cold or shorten your swim if it’s too hot. Many open water swimmers now use a swimmer’s buoy, AKA tow float. These inflatable buoys attach to a waist belt and the brightly colored float makes you more visible to other swimmers and, more importantly, boaters. Many tow floats have waterproof pockets for keeping hydration and nutrition, along with some other essentials. Consider carrying identification and medical information about allergies or underlying health conditions, as well as a cell phone. Also, consider attaching a plastic emergency whistle to the strap of your buoy. Exhaustion is another good reason to have a swimmer’s buoy; if you get tired, you can rest.
• Safety protocols and services—Your best bet is to swim where there are safety personnel and equipment onsite. Some beaches have lifeguards. Some parks have safety information posted and perhaps an office where rescue equipment is available. Other venues have little or no facilities, so you’ll want to pack some basic equipment and a first aid kit. You should not swim alone. And you should always share your swim plan with a contact person, including when and where to expect you after your swim.

You can do everything right and something can still go wrong. What are you going to do when the unthinkable happens and there’s an emergency that puts you or the group in danger?

Handling the emergency

Just as in any situation on land, it’s important to assess the situation and not make it any worse. That means not putting yourself and others in harm’s way when deciding how to deal with it. It’s easy to say, “don’t panic,” but in the instant an emergency happens, adrenaline will flow, and you might not think straight. It’s better to respond rather than react. Here are some tips to help with that decision-making process.

• Fastest and best—When an emergency arises, consider the fastest and best way out of trouble. That means understanding the environment you’re in. A good example is getting caught in a rip current. Many inexperienced swimmers panic and swim against the current that’s sweeping them away from shore, rather than calmly turning to parallel the shore and swim alongside it until they exit the rip. This takes experience and local knowledge. Medical emergencies such as hypothermia require a quick response, so knowing or locating the best and fastest exit point and getting warm is more important than getting back to where you started. Other medical emergencies, such as cardiac events, mean timing is of the essence. Having the ability to summon professional help quickly is key, so, once again, consider using a swimmer’s buoy with a waterproof cell phone pocket.
• Locate your resources and help—Other swimmers in your group can help assist a disabled or unconscious swimmer to shore while others get rescue personnel onsite as quickly as possible. Although many places are staffed with aquatics professionals who are constantly scanning the situation, draw attention to your emergency so they can activate their emergency protocols.
• Secure and record—As soon as the crisis is handled and the immediate danger is passed, write down what happened and what things may have caused the emergency in the first place. First responders need important information for dealing with medical issues or trauma. And for you, it can help you learn how to avoid emergencies in the future if you journal about the incident.

Understanding your environment and its inherent risks, anticipating problems, and knowing solutions before you encounter a problem will help you prepare. Being prepared will give you and your fellow swimmers the greatest chance of a good outcome in the event of an emergency.