Reach Assist (RA)
INTRODUCTIONReach Assist is a method of providing assistance to someone in distress and is considered a rescue skill. It is characterized by laying on the ground while extending a flotation aid or object towards the victim, and assisting them toward safety. Becoming proficient with Reach Assist develops Rescue Competency and Risk Competency.
Reach Assist, compared to other rescue skills, provides unique benefits associated with remaining on land while providing assistance to a victim in the water. Entering any aquatic environment increases risk, and in an emergency situation entering the water will subject the rescuer to the same conditions and hazards as the victim. Additionally, the victim may unintentionally harm the rescuer, such as grabbing and pulling them under the water as the victim tries to remain above the surface to breathe. Laying on the ground and maintaining a low center of gravity ensures that the rescuer will not accidentally fall or be pulled in while providing assistance.
When first learning rescue skills, the focus should be on minimizing risk to the rescuer. This includes assessing the situation before acting, and making sure to notify others (i.e lifeguards, adults, calling 911). For the Reach Assist skill in particular, learning to identify suitable objects to extend, and maintaining a low center of gravity should be prioritized. As individuals demonstrate proficiency extending objects without incurring additional risk, additional best practices for providing assistance can be incorporated. These may include talking to the victim to calm them, performing a secondary assessment and administering first aid as necessary (once the victim has reached safety), and practicing other land based rescue skills, such as Throw and Assist.
The Reach Assist skill is defined as the following:
Rescuer Sequence
Get help; tell a lifeguard or adult
If no lifeguard or adult is present, assess the scene; determine if you can safely help
Find an object to use as a rescue aid
Lay on deck to lower center of gravity
Extend rescue aid to victim
Talk to victim to calm them and encourage them to hold on tight
Pull victim to wall
Knowledge Objective
Note: 1st and 2nd graders only need to correctly respond to the first prompt to receive a ‘+’ for this knowledge objective. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders need to respond to both prompts to receive a ‘+’.
Recommended Teaching Guidelines
Picking the Best Skill (K4)
How to help. Assisting safely. Rescue skills. Rescue safety.
Assessment Prompt
If you see someone who needs help, should you go into the water to help them?
Acceptable responses
No!
It's not safe to enter the water when someone is in danger.
Follow up prompt
What can you do to help?
Acceptable responses
Call or go get help
Reach or throw, don't go
Find something to reach out to them
Throw them something that floats
Test Course
Begin the assessment with the rescuer/student in a standing position and the rescue aid (noodle) on the ground a few feet away from the rescuer/student. You can tell the student when to begin the ‘rescue’, but you may not remind them of the proper actions/steps while you are assessing.
Depending on class ability level, students may act as the victim for other class members. Assessing multiple students at once may be necessary for time management for larger class sizes. If students do not have the ability to float or tread proficiently, the instructor must act as the victim.
Scoring
The following scoring rubric lists the gradients of key requirements and deficiencies that provide an overall description of different competence levels.
A single score of 1 - 4 is assigned based on the instructor’s judgment of the student’s performance.
✔
1
Exhibits any of the following:
✖ Does not call for help
✖ Does not assess the scene or identify that they can safely help
✖ Does not perform without multiple instructor prompts
2
Performs all of the following:
✔ Alerts a lifeguard or adult for help
✔ Identifies they can assist without endangering themselves
✔ Finds an object to use as a rescue aid
✔ Extends rescue aid to the victim
✔ Pulls the victim to the wall
Exhibits any of the following:
✖ Starts assisting the victim before calling for help
✖ Starts assisting the victim before identifying they can do so safely
✖ Does not lay on the deck or lays on deck after extending rescue aid
3
Performs all of the following:
✔ Alerts a lifeguard or adult for help
✔ Identifies they can assist without endangering themselves before assisting the victim
✔ Finds an object to use as a rescue aid
✔ Lays on deck
✔ Pulls the victim to the wall
Exhibits any of the following:
✖ Does not calm the victim or tell them to hold on tightly
4
Performs all of the following:
✔ Alerts a lifeguard or adult for help
✔ Identifies they can assist without endangering themselves before assisting the victim
✔ Finds an object to use as a rescue aid
✔ Lays on deck
✔ Extends rescue aid to the victim
✔ Talks to the victim throughout the rescue
✔ Pulls the victim to the wall