How water accidents come about is a topic worthy of study for its own sake, but for the developing water rescue team it has additional benefits. This knowledge makes the rescuers safer. They learn the pitfalls when around water and are better prepared for what to expect when the call-out comes. For example, the call may be for a person stranded on a rock midstream in cold, swift water. The urgency, strategy and tactics of rescuers will be modified depending on whether the team is told that the victim is a fly-fisherman or a kayaker.
Every jurisdiction has sites that are accidents waiting to happen.
A thorough knowledge of water movement will provide the clues necessary to identify these hazardous areas and prepare accordingly. Where and why accidents may happen in the future becomes part of the knowledge base that the team must acquire. A wise team makes the assumption that sooner or later all of its members will need to be able to perform a self-rescue. This is as true for surf and swiftwater situations as it is for ice rescue. Pool or confined water training is the ideal place to begin practicing the techniques of basic lifesaving such as tow positions, in-water rescue breathing, cervical spine immobilization, litter loading, etc.