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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are in a river and being swept downstream by fast current — you cannot reach the bank.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are moving downstream faster than you can swim to shore.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Water is above your knees and increasing in speed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are being pulled toward rocks, a dam, or fallen trees.
Scene hazards: Foot entrapment, Rocks, Strainers, Hypothermia, Weirs
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If swept off feet, float immediately — do not try to stand.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Turn onto back with feet downstream to push off obstacles.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Use backstroke angled toward the nearest bank or eddy (calm area behind rocks).
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — When near shore, roll onto stomach and swim hard for the last few meters.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If a rope or branch is offered from shore, grab it and hold — do not wrap around wrist.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout your location downstream so rescuers can run along the bank.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout to people on bank to call 112 and run downstream to follow you.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Person in river current at [landmark]. Being swept downstream."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hypothermia and inhalation injury are common — seek care after any river immersion incident.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Internal injuries from hitting rocks may not be obvious immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT stand up in fast current — your foot can wedge in rocks and the water pushes you under.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT go through a strainer (tree in water) — swim away from it.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT go over a low-head dam — these are drowning machines.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should stand up quickly if you fall in a shallow river
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Even knee-deep fast water can trap your foot. Float first, then stand only in very slow, clear water near shore.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Foot entrapment drowning in water that looked shallow and safe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — River current is powerful and unpredictable. Foot entrapment in rocks causes many drownings — never stand in fast flowing water above knee depth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Strainers — submerged branches — trap and drown even strong swimmers.