"For example, the lake is calm, but the
distressed person is so panicked that they grab on to the person trying to help them, and both succumb," Brewster said.
The best way to approach a drowning victim is with a floatation device, Brewster said.
"If you lack training in rescuing, it is enormously dangerous to attempt a rescue," even for strong swimmers, Brewster said. The safest action to take is to throw a floatation device to the person.
If that can't be done or the person is out of reach, a rescuer should take a floating object with them when they enter the water.
"What you want to do is to avoid contact," he said, "that contact is what results in death."
Professional ocean lifeguards always take a floatation device with them when they go into the water to make a rescue.
If you push a floating object toward a person, they will automatically grab onto it, Brewster said, which will keep the rescuer safely out of the distressed person's frenzied grasp.