A professional rescuer must be able to assess the situation, determine the level of potential risk in each specific case and recognize dangers while performing rescue operations while minimizing or avoiding as much as possible. For this reason, a rescuer must know potentially dangerous areas in the water during summer and on the ice during winter season.
Rescue operations in inland waters are carried out using a boat (row boat or motorboat), a rescue board or by swimming. Additionally, a diving mask, breathing tube, swim fins, inflatable or fixed-volume life vest, lifebuoy, floating polypropylene rope, dry suits, spiked galoshes or metal attachments, ice picks, and portable ladders are used.