Which technique requires the rescuer to enter the water to physically approach and retrieve the victim?

• A. Reach
• B. Throw
• C. Row
• D. Go

Answer: (D)

In water rescue, there’s a progression of approaches designed to minimize risk to the rescuer: reach, throw, row, then go. The technique that requires the rescuer to enter the water to physically approach and retrieve the victim is the one where you actually go into the water and swim to the casualty to make contact and bring them to safety. This step is used only when non-contact methods can’t reach or retrieve the person due to distance, current, or other limitations, and it demands proper training, equipment, and safety precautions. Reach involves extending something to the victim without entering the water, throw uses a flotation device, and row brings a boat to the vicinity without entering the water yourself.