Float: A lifesaving piece of advice
Just over half (55%) ended up in the water unexpectedly – many of them walkers and runners who slipped, tripped and fell in.
With Respect the Water (https://www.respectthewater.com) back for its sixth year, the RNLI are sharing its advice to float if you find yourselves in trouble in cold water.
There are five steps to floating:
- Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about.
- Lean back, extend your arms and legs.
- If you need to, gently move your arms and legs to help you float.
- Float until you can control your breathing.
- Call for help or swim to safety.
Watch sand artist Chris Spackman (search @sandala_beachart on Instagram) bring the float safety message to life:
https://rnli.org/video-player/B1789EBB-DB57-4535-97D1890562FFA548
Read about how RNLI’s float advice saved surfer Ruth’s life and get more advice on floating at respectthewater.com (https://www.respectthewater.com).