When the weather is hot, being near the water can feel brilliant. As paddlers, we know how much fun rivers, lakes, pools and the sea can be. At Kingston Kayak Club, we are confident that our members understand and respect the water — but hot weather is always a good time to remind ourselves of the basics.
Water can be fun, exciting and beautiful, but it can also become dangerous very quickly if something goes wrong.
This is not about frightening anyone. It is about knowing what to do, staying calm, and making safe choices.
If you end up in the water: float to survive
If you fall into water unexpectedly, your first instinct might be to panic, splash around, or try to swim hard straight away.
Try not to.
The most important thing is to float.
Lean back, keep your mouth clear of the water, spread your arms and legs if you can, and try to control your breathing. Once you have calmed down, you can shout for help or think about the safest way to get to the side.
Remember:
Float first. Breathe. Then think.
If someone gets into difficulty: don’t be a hero
This is really important.
If someone else is struggling in the water, your first thought might be to jump in and help them.
Do not jump in.
Even strong swimmers and experienced paddlers can get into trouble when trying to rescue someone. The person in difficulty may panic, grab hold of you, and pull you under. Then there are two people needing rescue instead of one.
The safest thing you can do is:
Call for help first.
Get another adult, a coach, a lifeguard, or phone 999 if needed.
Then remember:
Shout, Reach, Throw — but never go
Shout
Shout to the person in the water. Keep your instructions clear and simple.
Tell them to:
“Float on your back.”
“Swim to the side.”
“Keep calm.”
Try not to have everyone shouting different things at once. One clear voice is much more helpful.
Reach
If they are close enough, use something to reach them from the bank, poolside or shore.
This could be a paddle, branch, stick, pole, or anything long enough to help them get closer.
Make sure you stay low, stay stable, and do not let yourself get pulled in.
Throw
If there is a throw line, throw bag, lifebuoy, or something that floats, throw it to them.
If it has a rope, keep hold of the end or make sure it is secured.
Then help guide or pull them towards the side if it is safe to do so.
Never go
Do not enter the water yourself unless you are specifically trained, properly equipped, and it is part of a safe, controlled rescue.
For most situations, the message is simple:
Shout, Reach, Throw — but never go.
Remember the rescue priority order
When something goes wrong, it can feel natural to focus only on the person in difficulty. But there is a safe order to think about.
1. You
You are the most important person in the rescue.
That might sound strange, but if you also get into trouble, the whole situation becomes worse. Stay safe, stay out of the water, and get help.
2. The group
Look after the rest of the group.
Make sure nobody else jumps in. Keep people back from the edge. Ask someone to get an adult, coach, lifeguard, or call 999.
3. The person in difficulty
Once you and the group are safe, help the person in difficulty using safe methods:
Shout, Reach, Throw — but never go.
4. Equipment
Boats, paddles, helmets, buoyancy aids and bags can usually be replaced.
People cannot.
If equipment floats away, only recover it if it is safe to do so. Yes, we want to look after our kit and keep the environment tidy, but no piece of equipment is worth someone getting hurt.
Good paddlers respect the water
Being a paddler does not mean we can ignore water safety. In fact, paddlers should lead by example.
We want all members to enjoy the water, build confidence, and develop their skills — but also to understand that good paddlers make sensible decisions.
These are the same sorts of principles you would learn on courses such as Paddle Safer, Paddlesport Safety and Rescue, Foundation Safety and Rescue, or White Water Safety and Rescue.
The key message is simple:
Respect the water. Stay calm. Look after yourself. Call for help. Shout, Reach, Throw — but never go.