Throw What? Evaluation of Different Rescue Tools Used by Middle-Aged and Older Bystanders During a Drowning Incident: A Pilot Study.

BackgroundLate middle-aged and older adults face a heightened risk of drowning due to declines in physical capacity and comorbidities. They often act as caregivers for grandchildren or individuals of a similar age, which may affect their drowning risk and ability to perform safe rescues. The "reach, row, throw, don't go" paradigm remains central to bystander rescue strategies. Identifying effective aquatic rescue devices for laypersons is a key unresolved issue.MethosThis pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of several aquatic rescue devices-specifically a ring buoy, a rescue buoy, and a plastic handled jug commonly referred to as a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle-in a simulated drowning scenario.ResultsSeventeen older adults participated, performing rescue throws with each device. Significant differences in throwing distances were observed, with the rescue buoy and PET bottle being thrown significantly farther than the ring buoy. The rescue buoy and PET bottle achieved mean distances of 8.0 and 7.7 m, respectively, compared with 5.6 m for the ring buoy. No significant differences were found in throwing accuracy across the devices.ConclusionsLighter rescue devices, such as the rescue buoy and PET bottle, may allow late middle-aged and older adults to achieve greater throwing distances without compromising accuracy in simulated rescue scenarios. The ring buoy was the least effective in terms of distance. This study supports consideration of age-appropriate rescue tools tailored to each population profile.