River rescue

You’ll need

Chalk
Rope
String
Access to the internet
Sticks and stones
A pretend buoyancy aid (for example, a football)

Before you begin

Make sure all activity leaders have read through the Royal Life Saving Society’s advice on how to rescue someone from drowning before delivering this activity.
Before getting stuck into this activity, you could book a visit from the RNLI to learn about water safety.
Sketch out some rivers and lakes in chalk on your meeting place floor. Do this outside if it’s easier. String, ropes, sticks and stones could also be used to shape meandering rivers and small ponds.
Make sure you have enough leaders, adult volunteers or Young Leaders who are familiar with the RLSS guidance linked above. You’ll need two per river or lake.

Run the activity

Everyone should get into small groups. You’ll need as many groups as there are marked-out bodies of water. Have each group gather by their river or lake.
Have one of the leaders at each marked-out body of water stand in the centre of their lake or river. They’re the ‘leader in trouble’.
Have the other leader at each marked-out body of water join the group on the bank of the lake or river. They’re the ‘rescuing leader’, and the group is their rescue party.
The rescuing leader should ask the group why rescuing someone from a body of water can be dangerous. See what suggestions they come up with.

These might include the difficulties of swimming in cold water, risks associated with wildlife or the cause of the person in need of rescue being in the water.

The rescuing leader should ask the group what the safest way of attempting a rescue might be in this scenario. Rather than answer yes or no, the rescuing leader and leader in trouble should mimic each rescue suggestion, so that the group can see how their ideas might work in practice and discuss pros and cons.

The first thing they should do is alert someone, preferably a lifeguard. Only if you’re alone should you carry out steps solo to help rescue the person in trouble.

The leader in trouble should shout to the rescue party to give them more information. This could include what the water current’s like, how deep it is, what else is in the water and how they’re feeling. The rescue party should discuss what they’d need to do in these different scenarios.

For example, the leader in trouble might be in a fast-flowing river. The current presents a serious risk to their safety. The rescuers should think about how they can deal with this. They might like to consider other objects in the river, like branches and sticks, as well as installations like life-rings that might be nearby.

Between them, the two leaders should guide the group towards the appropriate actions (those deemed safest by RLSS) and the order in which to do them. This should include what to do with a rescued party after they’re out of the water. Share this information on aftercare from St John Ambulance.
Now, have a member of the group be the person in trouble, by going to stand in the centre of the body of water. Another member of the group should be the leader of the rescue party, which includes the two leaders. Have the person in need of rescue share information about their situation like before, and the rescue party follow the steps recommended by the RLSS.
Keep rotating the person in need of rescue and the rescue party personnel until all of the variables of this situation have been explored.
Reinforce the group’s understanding by recapping the measures taken for each different scenario.

Reflection

This activity is a way to simulate an emergency water scenario on dry land, so that young people are prepared if something like this happens. They should know how to respond in a way that doesn’t endanger themselves. Which parts of the rescue scenarios were tricky to work through and which were simpler? What’s the first thing that should be done, whatever the scenario? Get help!

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Active games: The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.
Outdoor activities: You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.