We live on the river! The most critical factor in a person’s survival in the water is the level of his psychological preparation for urgent situations. Most often, people are killed not by the lack of life-saving means but by psychological helplessness in fighting against the elements. In this post we will see How to survive on the water .
In case of an accident on the water, the fundamental law of behavior is not to get lost, to soberly assess your capabilities, and to actively fight to survive on the water and save yourself and the ship. An emergency situation requires constant self-monitoring and monitoring of the condition of the river.
For example, when capsizing on a small vessel, such as a kayak, you must pay to hold on to it. If possible, do not let go of the oar from your hand. Holding on to the harness, throw the oar to the bottom of the kayak. When drifting with the boat, try to get to shore as quickly as possible. If you have not lost the war and the kayak is not upside down, climb onto the kayak on horseback and row to the shore. This is the best option for inflatable and frame inflatable kayaks.

Your actions to survive on the water
Staying in the water, do not forget about the main dangers. Try to bring your breathing rhythm following the alternation of river waves. Save your strength. Getting ashore to complete exhaustion makes sense only when there is a real opportunity. You can only weaken the blow against the stones if you take the correct water position. It is necessary to raise and bend your legs a little. You can also protect yourself from rocks with a kayak or a paddle.
The highest probability of hitting rocks exists under challenging river sections, so if you see a severe obstacle ahead of the ship, it is better to abandon it and get to the shore on your own. If you do not have time, it is better to catch on to a stone on the opposite side of the current and, from there, wait for help using supplying the rescue end of the rope from the shore.

Hidden dangers
Much more dangerous are obstacles that are permeable to water. Trees, rubble, sharp stone ridges, metal trash, and rock ledges hanging low over the water. You need to run with all your might from this danger because there is no escape from it. Of particular risk is hypothermia. The maximum residence time in cold water is 10 to 15 minutes. If within 5-7 minutes you fail to get to the shore with your swimming facility, you should abandon it and make your way to the coast on your own.

In this case, care must be taken to ensure that wet things do not hinder movement. Unbutton the buttons on the collar and sleeves, loosen the belt, turn out the trousers pockets, remove the shoes, and put them under the belt. Swim and breaststroke are better.