What should rescuer teams do before conducting a water rescue?

Conducting a risk assessment of the area is essential before performing a water rescue. This process involves evaluating the scene to identify potential dangers that could affect both the victim and the rescue team. By assessing environmental factors such as water conditions, currents, weather, visibility, and nearby hazards, rescuers can make informed decisions about the safest way to proceed. This assessment not only helps in formulating an effective rescue strategy but also ensures the safety and effectiveness of the rescuers involved.

In contrast, gathering personal information about the victim can be valuable but is secondary and should not delay immediate rescue efforts. Ensuring all rescuers are experienced swimmers is important, but this alone cannot replace the necessity of understanding the environment and risks present. Taking selfies for documentation, while perhaps a light-hearted suggestion, is irrelevant in the context of a serious rescue operation. Such distractions could compromise focus and safety during the rescue.