Falling into deep water unexpectedly can be a terrifying experience, especially if you don’t know how to swim. Panic sets in, your instincts tell you to struggle, and before you know it, you’re exhausted and in real danger. However, survival in such a situation is entirely possible if you remain calm and follow a set of simple but life-saving steps.
According to Dr. Nash and his team of researchers, the key to survival is overcoming fear instincts and following five crucial steps. These steps are designed to help anyone—regardless of swimming ability—stay afloat, breathe, and increase their chances of rescue. Let’s dive into these life-saving techniques.
1. Stay Calm and Relax to Achieve Natural Buoyancy
The first and most critical step is to fight the urge to struggle. Many people instinctively flail their arms and legs in a desperate attempt to stay above water. However, this only wastes energy and causes faster exhaustion.
Instead, take a deep breath and allow your body to relax. When you stop panicking, your body will naturally float closer to the water’s surface. The human body is slightly less dense than water, meaning that if you remain still, you can achieve buoyancy without much effort.
2. Tilt Your Head Back to Keep Your Airway Clear
Once you’ve calmed yourself and started floating, you need to ensure that you can breathe. The best way to do this is to tilt your head back, keeping your face above the water.
Try not to move too much, as sudden movements can make you sink slightly. If you feel yourself going under, resist the urge to panic—simply take a deep breath, relax your muscles, and allow yourself to rise again.
Video : How to Survive if You Fall in Water – Prevent Yourself From Drowning – Survival Techniques
3. Breathe Slowly and Avoid Inhaling Water
Now that your nose and mouth are above water, it’s time to focus on breathing. Many people instinctively gasp for air, but this can lead to choking if water splashes into your mouth. Instead, practice controlled breathing:
- Exhale slowly through your nose to clear any water that may have entered.
- Inhale through your mouth in a controlled manner.
- If a wave covers your face, hold your breath momentarily, then resume normal breathing.
Even experienced swimmers can struggle if they inhale water, so maintaining steady breathing is crucial for survival.
4. Move Your Arms and Legs Gently to Stay Afloat
At this point, you should be floating on the water’s surface and breathing steadily. The next step is to use gentle, controlled movements to maintain your position.
- Use slow arm movements: Move your arms in a sweeping motion, like you’re making small circles in the water. This will help you stay afloat without expending too much energy.
- Legs should remain still if you don’t know how to kick properly: If you’re unsure how to tread water, keeping your legs still is often better than kicking randomly. Let them sink slightly while focusing on keeping your upper body above water.
The key here is to avoid frantic movements—slow and deliberate strokes will keep you afloat much longer.
5. Look for Rescue Opportunities
Once you’ve gained control of your breathing and movements, your next priority is finding a way to safety.
- Scan your surroundings – Look for anything floating that you can grab onto, such as a buoy, a log, or even a piece of debris. Holding onto something will help you conserve energy.
- Check your distance from the shore – If you can see land, assess whether it’s possible to move toward it using slow, steady movements.
- Signal for help – If there are people nearby, shout for help. However, conserve energy by calling out only when necessary.
If you’re caught in a strong current, do not try to swim directly against it—this will only tire you out. Instead, swim diagonally at an angle to gradually move out of the current’s pull.
What to Do If You See Someone Drowning
If you witness someone struggling in deep water, it’s important to act quickly but safely. Jumping in to rescue them may seem like the right thing to do, but unless you’re a trained rescuer, it could put both of you at risk.
Instead, follow these steps:
- Shout instructions – Encourage the person to follow the survival steps above. Remind them to relax, tilt their head back, and float.
- Find a flotation device – If possible, throw a life jacket, a rope, or any floating object they can grab onto.
- Call emergency services – Immediately contact your local emergency number and provide details of the situation.
Video : How to get over fear of water – Feel safe on the deep end
Why Staying Calm is the Key to Survival
Many drowning incidents occur not because the victim physically sinks, but because they panic and exhaust themselves. Learning how to override panic instincts and follow a survival routine can mean the difference between life and death.
Dr. Nash explains:
“Whether you’re planning a vacation, taking a walk near a river, or going for a swim, knowing how to stay safe in water is crucial. These simple survival techniques can save your life or someone else’s.”
Final Thoughts
Surviving a fall into deep water without knowing how to swim is possible—but only if you remain calm and follow the right steps. By floating, maintaining steady breathing, and making slow movements, you can conserve energy and increase your chances of rescue.
Now that you know these survival strategies, share them with your friends and family. You never know when this knowledge might save a life!
The World’s Hairiest Girl Is Now Grown Up, Happily Married and Rocks Her New Style After Shaving
A girl, once labeled “wolf girl” and “monkey face” by her peers, knew that her condition wouldn’t stop her from finding happiness. Eventually, she discovered the love of her life, and her story reveals the profound impact it had on her life.
Supatra “Natty” Sasuphan, once dubbed the world’s hairiest girl, faced ridicule and fear from her classmates due to her unique appearance.
On August 5, 1999, something important happened in Supatra’s family. Usually, when a new baby is born, parents feel really happy and excited. That’s how Supatra’s mom and dad, Sompon and Samrerng, felt when she was born.
But their happiness was mixed with surprise, fear, and disbelief because the doctor told them their baby had a lot of hair. At first, they thought it was normal, but when they saw her in the incubator, they were shocked by how much hair she had. Supatra’s hair covered almost her whole body, and even the doctors in Thailand had never seen someone like her.
Later on, doctors figured out that Natty had a very rare skin disease called Ambras syndrome. This condition is so uncommon that there have only been 50 cases like hers documented in the world since a long time ago.
Ambras syndrome causes excess body hair growth, sparing only the palms, soles, and mouth interior, likely due to a sudden DNA change.
When Natty was born, and her mom wanted to leave the hospital, the doctors didn’t want to let her go because they were worried she might leave her child behind. Sompon told the doctor that she would never abandon her child, no matter what. She said, “We are lucky that she was born into our family.”
Natty grew up in a loving family, but not everyone was understanding of her condition, and she had to deal with some unkindness from strangers and peers.
As Natty grew up, her face remained hidden behind thick hair due to her incurable Ambras syndrome. Regular methods like laser removal couldn’t slow down her hair growth. At school, she faced ridicule because of her unique appearance. Kids called her names like “wolf girl” and “monkey face.”
Natty, however, didn’t understand why they teased her, as she considered herself a normal girl with just a bit more hair. She stated, “It’s the way I am.”
Natty’s teacher, Kuljira Posaeng, revealed that other kids were initially scared of Natty’s appearance, making her early school days difficult. Over time, though, Natty proved she was just like any other student. Teachers described her as hardworking with good grades, and she eventually became one of the most popular kids at school.
Natty’s teachers said she was a lively girl who loved to sing, dance, and act. Her parents treated her just like any other kid, and they never made her feel like she was less important. They took her everywhere and weren’t embarrassed that she looked different from other children.
Later on, Natty found her love.
Natty has come to terms with her condition, understanding that there’s no cure for it. She decided to keep her body hair the way it naturally grew from the time she was born, only shaving her face when she became a teenager. As she grew older, her self-esteem and self-image became more important to her, and she also found love.
She shared: “It began from friendship, then we became a couple.” Their conversations brought her happiness, and being together was comfortable, with a love she didn’t anticipate: “It was a kind of love that I didn’t expect would happen to me.”
Natty later married her boyfriend, calling him “the love of my life.”
She also posted pictures with her lover, showing her face without facial hair. Some people thought she might have been cured, but her dad explained that she had chosen to shave her facial hair to reveal her new look. Now, her eyes, face, mouth, lips, and cheeks are visible, with only her forehead covered by her head’s hair.
Natty, who has found love and happiness, is determined to lead a positive life and continue making a beautiful impact on society. She believes that everyone is beautiful and unique in their own way, and she wants to inspire others to embrace their individuality and radiate their inner beauty.
Before you go, be sure to check out another article where a woman shares her story to emphasize that body hair shouldn’t be criticized, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance and embracing one’s uniqueness.
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