Abstract
Water rescue is constantly looking for solutions to improve the effectiveness of its operations. One of the elements of an action carried out directly in water is the rescue jump, whose effectiveness may determine the quality and success of the action taken. Therefore, a study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of a rescuer reaching a drowning person depending on the method of entry into the water. Comparisons were made between a traditional rescue jump (forward or stride entry) and a start jump used in sports. The observations also took into account factors related to the location of the operation (swimming pool, inland), the distance from the shore and the depth of immersion of the drowning person. The results show a significantly longer time for the rescuer to reach the drowning person after the rescue jump as compared to the start jump. Under standard swimming conditions, regardless of the distance and depth of immersion of the drowning person, all subjects reached the victim in the first attempt. Observations carried out in the conditions of designated inland water areas revealed comparable effectiveness in finding a simulated drowning person submerged to a depth of 2m and a significantly shorter time to reach them in favour of the start jump.