Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. Tell the person to float on their back, throw them something that floats, and do not go into the water yourself. Rescuers who enter the water can become casualties, which is the reason for the RNLI's call, tell, throw advice and for the rule of reach or throw, don't go.
Step one: call for help
The Irish Coast Guard's advice, quoted in a gov.ie release on rip currents, is: if you see someone in difficulty or suspect they are in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. The RNLI says the same, and gives the sequence Call, Tell, Throw. Make the call first, before you do anything else, unless someone else is already doing it. Send another person to call if you can.
Stay on the line. A call-handler will ask questions, and the following are typical things to be ready with, but follow whatever they ask: where you are (a beach name, a nearby landmark, a pier or a car park), what you can see, how many people are in the water, and whether the casualty can still be seen. Stay where you can keep eyes on the person and keep the phone charged and in your hand.
Step two: tell them to float
The RNLI advises telling the person in the water to float on their back, keep their body relaxed and focus on steady breathing. The aim is to ride out the cold water shock response, which research summarised by the University of Portsmouth says is strongest in the first 30 seconds and then eases. If they can hear you, shout instructions clearly and calmly, and keep your voice steady. For the technique itself, see cold water shock and float to live.
Step three: throw, and do not go in
The RNLI says to throw the person something that floats, such as a life ring, and warns: do not go in the water yourself, as you could end up in difficulty too. The HSE adds that a ring buoy may be used if available, and that you should only enter the water if it is safe.
Look around for anything that floats and can be thrown: a life ring on a pier or promenade, a tow float, a buoyancy aid, a sealed plastic container, a football, a cool box, a paddleboard. Throw it so it lands within reach of the person, ideally beyond them so you can pull it back toward them, and shout to the person to grab it. Keep hold of any line attached. Ring buoys are provided for this purpose, and the HSE asks that children are kept away from them so they are not damaged or tangled.
If the person is close enough to the bank, pier or poolside, reaching to them with a long object such as a pole, branch or oar while you stay braced on firm ground is part of standard lifesaving practice. The sources consulted here do not describe the technique in detail, so consider a Water Safety Ireland course if you spend time near water.
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Call 999 or 112, ask for the Coast Guard | Assume someone else has called |
| Tell them to float on their back and breathe steadily | Shout at them to swim hard against a current |
| Throw a ring or anything that floats | Jump in to reach them |
| Keep watching and keep your phone line open | Leave the casualty to look for help |
After they are out
Someone pulled from cold water may be cold, frightened and exhausted. If they are conscious, move them to shelter, remove wet clothing, wrap them in a blanket or dry towel with their head covered, give a warm non-alcoholic drink and sugary food if fully awake, keep them talking and stay with them. These are the NHS first aid steps for hypothermia. The NHS says not to use a hot bath, hot water bottle or heat lamp, not to rub the limbs and not to give alcohol. Treat suspected hypothermia as an emergency even if they say they feel fine, because the NHS says it needs hospital treatment.
If a person is unresponsive or not breathing normally, tell the call-handler. They can guide you through what to do until help arrives. Formal first aid and CPR training is worth having if you spend time near open water; the sources consulted do not set out the steps here, so follow the call-handler.
If you are the one in difficulty
The advice flips when it is you. Float on your back with arms and legs spread, control your breathing, and wait for the cold water shock to pass before you decide what to do. If caught in a rip current, do not fight it, swim parallel to shore if you can, and raise a hand and shout. See sea swimming tides and currents.
Swimming with others, wearing a bright cap and carrying a tow float and a phone in a waterproof pouch makes a rescue faster. RNLI advice is to keep a means of calling for help on you and to tell someone ashore your plans. See tow floats and safety kit for swimmers and the cold water safety checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What number do I ring?
999 or 112, then ask for the Coast Guard. Stay on the line.
Should I swim out to help?
No. The RNLI warns you could end up in difficulty too. Call, tell them to float and throw something that floats.
What can I throw?
A life ring if there is one, otherwise anything buoyant such as a tow float or sealed container. Keep hold of any line.
What do I do once they are out?
Shelter them, remove wet clothes, wrap them up and keep them talking. The NHS treats suspected hypothermia as an emergency.