The rescuer named the main reason why even good swimmers drown.

      May 20, 2026 15:16 Society Many believe that if a person is drowning, one should immediately swim to their aid. However, rescuers warn that this can be dangerous. Climber and rescuer Denis Kiselev told 360.ru in an interview that most people drown not because they cannot swim or are losing strength, but due to panic. When water enters the airways, the body begins to react to the threat, and the person may choke even more, leading to loss of consciousness and drowning. The rescuer noted that those who try to help a drowning person may themselves be in danger. This is especially true for people who are not confident in the water. Kiselev recommended that such individuals not take risks and immediately call for help from rescuers. Kiselev emphasized that a person in panic behaves inadequately. They may flail their arms and legs at everything around them, which is why rescuers use special floats. They pass these to the drowning person so that they can grab onto an object with positive buoyancy. This allows rescuers to safely transport the victim. Even experienced rescuers approach the rescue of drowning individuals with caution. They try to calm the person and give them a chance to regain control. "A person must stop, so to speak, flailing and hitting everything around," Kiselev said. If you still decide to help a drowning person, first attract the attention of those around you. Let them see that there are already two people in the water. Then give the victim any object that can help them stay afloat, such as a backpack, a piece of foam, or a life ring. The most important rule for a rescuer is not to increase the number of victims. Any rescue operations must be safe for all participants. Let us remind you that a child and three adults drowned in Nizhny Novgorod water bodies last week. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+