Survival whilst in the water
If you find yourself in the water while at sea, there are several things you can do to help you survive:
Stay afloat - If you're in calm water, you can try floating horizontally with your knees raised to your chest. If you don't have a life jacket, you can try tying a knot in the ends of your trousers or trapping air in another piece of clothing.
Look for floating objects - Try to swim towards any floating objects you can find, such as an empty jug or a pool noodle.
Huddle together - If you're with other people, you can huddle together to reduce heat loss and increase your survival time.
Use shelter - Use anything you can as shelter from the sun and rain, such as a sail, tarp, or clothing.
Stay calm - Staying calm and waiting for rescue is your best bet
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) recommends the following tips for staying safe in the water:
Float to live: If you find yourself in the water, you should try to float instead of swimming. To do this, you can:
- Turn onto your back
- Tilt your head back so your ears are submerged
- Relax and try to breathe normally
- Move your hands to help you stay afloat
- Spread your arms and legs to improve stability