a) By fins:

• The victim is lying facing up.
• Put the victim’s fins on your shoulder with your head in the middle.
• Push the victim (who must keep his legs straight) swimming forward with flutter kick.
• Quiet the victim.

b) By armpit:

• The victim is lying prone.
• Move one of the victim’s arms far from the his body and place yourself close his armpit (in between his arm and his body).
• Push the victim from the arm, swimming with the side kick.
• Quiet the victim.

c) With a float:

• The victim attaches to the float, placing the armpits on the float.
• Take the float on the opposite side of the victim and swim backwards, with the fins under the float, tows the victim.
• Quiet the victim.

REASON:

• It may be difficult for a tired person to swim on the surface.
• By learning the tows, a snorkeling guide can help a tired buddy to reach the exit point.

a) On yourself.

• With one hand take the tip of the fin and hold the other hand above the knee to keep the leg extended (do not bend the knee).
• Move your hand from the knee to the calf to massage it.

b) On the victim.

• The victim asks for assistance for a leg cramp.
• With one hand take the tip of the fin and hold the other hand above the knee so that the victim keeps his leg extended (do not bend the knee).
• Move your hand from the knee to the calf of the victim to massage it.

REASON:

• Suffering a cramp means having great difficulty moving on the surface.
• It is essential to learn these techniques to be able to assist yourself or a client.

• The victim simulates being panicked: the mask on his head, he waves and vigorously moves his legs to stay afloat.
• Approach the victim and try to calm him by talking to him but don’t come close (3/4 meters away).
• Put the float between you and the victim and let it hang on.
• Keep talking until he calm down (staying at a distance).

REASON:

• This exercise teaches candidates how to approach a person on the surface in panic.
• A snorkeling guide should approach panicked people in the proper way to avoid to be hit.

• Tie the end of the rope to a bollard, a ladder or other, and verify that the other end is well fixed to the float.
• Coil the rope in one hand so that there is no knotting.
• Throw, with the other hand, the float near the victim.
• Let him hang on the float and drag him towards you.

REASON:

• Throwing a surface support such as a lifebuoy with a rope to a person who can hang on it and be towed to the exit is the safest way to support an exhausted person on the surface.

a) From the boat.

• Swim the victim to the boat ladder.
• Remove the belt, if present, and then the fins.
• Get back on the boat and quickly take off your belt and fins.
• Take a rope and pass it behind the back and under the armpits of the victim.
• Use your legs to help him climb step by step, encouraging him.

b) From the shore.

• Swim the victim in trouble to the shallow water near the shore.
• Remove the belt, if present, and then the fins.
• Let the victim crawl or support him until he reaches the shore, encouraging him.

REASON: 

• An exhausted person will find very difficult to exit the water.
• There are different techniques a snorkeling guide can help the person using simple tools normally available on the excursion site.

• Call for help.
• Roll the victim onto his back, face up.
• If present, unbuckle and drop his weight belts.
• Remove his mask and, if necessary, his snorkel.
• Open his airway (placing your middle or ring fingers below his lower jaw e tilt his head gently backwards).
• Blow strongly into his mouth and repeat: “Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!”
• If he does not respond, remove your mask and snorkel
• Give two rescue breaths to attempt to interrupt the laryngospasm and kick-start the breathing reflex.
• If this doesn’t work, remove your belt and begin to swim the unconscious victim to the shore
• Blow into the opened airway every 5 seconds.

REASON:

• In case of prolonged breath-holds, the blackout is possible. 

SUGGESTION:

• Teach your candidates they they should encourage their customer to remain on surface, those that want to practice freediving they should participate in the SNSI Freediver course. 

• Approach him from the behind and grasp him with your left hand under his armpit.
• With the right hand unbuckle his weight belt.
• Grasp him with your hands under his armpits and keep his body above yours.
• Bring him to the surface.
• Call for help.
• Remove his mask and, if necessary, his snorkel.
• Open his airway (placing your middle or ring fingers below his lower jaw e tilt his head gently backwards).
• Blow strongly into his mouth and repeat: “Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!”
• If he does not respond, remove your mask and snorkel.
• Give two rescue breaths to attempt to interrupt the laryngospasm and kick-start the breathing reflex.
• If this doesn’t work, remove your belt and begin to swim the unconscious victim to the shore.
• Blow into the opened airway every 5 seconds.

REASON:

• Learning this technique a SNSI Snorkeling Guide is able to actual act in case of necessity. 

SUGGESTION:

• Teach your candidates they they should encourage their customer to remain on surface, those that want to practice freediving they should participate in the SNSI Freediver course. 

At the end of this session candidates have learned:

• The different rescue skills they could need to perform during snorkeling activities.

• Candidates must Prepare a Plan for a Snorkeling Excursion that they will use during next session.
• Candidates must prepare a Pre-excursion Briefing that they will use during next session.
• Tell the candidates the time, date and location of the next water session.

• Training Record: Both you and the students must initial and date in the appropriate space in the training record section for confined water session 2.