Dr Teo Ho Pin, chairman of the National Water Safety Council, gave these tips on what to do when you see someone in distress in the water. 1. Shout and look around for help. If there are others who are trained as life-savers, they will know what to do. 2. If no one responds to your calls for help, try and reach for the person in the water using ropes, life buoys or floats, or grab his clothing if he is near enough. 3. If there is an absolute need to go into the water, always make sure you have with you a flotation device such as a life buoy. If you cannot find one, use anything that floats, like a container made of buoyant material. Going into the water should be the last resort, said Dr Teo. “Just don’t go in empty handed. Sometimes you can’t tell the strength of the current. You must be able to keep yourself afloat.” “The safety of the life-saver is paramount. If you can’t protect yourself, how can you save the person who is drowning?” Source: The Sunday Times, 17 May 2009