What technique should be used to reach a victim without entering the water when possible?

• A. Dive straight into the water.
• B. Call for help from shore.
• C. Reach-and-throw: extend a pole, paddle, or rope to the victim and/or throw a line to secure them.
• D. Use a drone to deliver a rescue buoy.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is to help the victim from a safe position without entering the water. Reach-and-throw accomplishes this by using a long object or a line to extend your reach. You can extend a pole, paddle, or rope to the victim so they can grab on and, if needed, a line or buoy can be tossed to secure them. This keeps you on shore or a stable platform, reducing exposure to currents, waves, cold, or other hazards while you assist.

Why this works best: it provides immediate assistance without putting you at water-entry risk, making the rescue quicker and safer. If the victim is not within reach, calling for help from shore adds support, and in some settings a drone can assist by delivering a buoy, but neither of these replaces the direct, low-risk reach-and-throw action when it’s feasible. Diving into the water should be avoided if possible because it significantly increases danger to you and the rescue.