To avoid injury to yourself when making a rear rescue, what should you do?

When performing a rear rescue, turning your head before making contact is essential for several reasons. This action helps ensure that you are aware of your surroundings and can assess the situation more effectively. By turning your head, you are able to see the position of both the victim and any potential hazards in the water, such as other swimmers or obstacles.

Additionally, turning your head before making contact allows you to maintain better body control and orientation, which can help prevent injuries to yourself. If you approach the victim without checking your orientation, you risk colliding with them or becoming disoriented, which could jeopardize the rescue and lead to further complications.

In contrast, rushing in quickly or jumping feet first does not provide the necessary situational awareness, potentially leading to dangerous circumstances for both you and the victim. Similarly, while a diving technique may be effective in certain scenarios, it is not the safest or most appropriate approach when conducting a rear rescue, as it can complicate the rescue effort and increase the risk of injuries.