How should you drag someone to safety?

Dragging someone to safety requires ensuring both your safety and the safety of the person you're assisting. Using your hands on their shoulders to pull is a method that maximizes control and minimizes the risk of injury to either party. This technique allows for better leverage and helps manage the body’s movements while reducing strain on your back, which is important when moving someone who may be injured.

This method also helps maintain the victim's alignment, which is crucial to prevent further injury. In emergency situations, it's vital to act quickly yet cautiously, and pulling from the shoulders allows for a more stable approach compared to pulling them by the arms or lifting them entirely off the ground, which can lead to additional injuries.

Resorting to using a strap or a belt could be problematic as it might not provide the necessary control and could increase the risk of causing further harm. Additionally, lifting someone completely off the ground can be dangerous for both the rescuer and the victim, especially if the victim is unconscious or has visible injuries. This approach also requires more strength and can be exhausting, possibly leading to accidents or the rescuer collapsing from overexertion. Therefore, pulling by placing your hands on their shoulders is the safest and most effective method in emergency situations.