Throw bag

Water rescue equipment

"Throw line" redirects here and is not to be confused with Oche.

A throw bag

A throw bag or throw line is a rescue device with a length of rope stuffed loosely into a bag so it can pay out through the top when the bag is thrown to a swimmer.

A throw bag is standard rescue equipment for kayaking and other outdoor river recreational activities.

A throw bag is used to rescue someone who is swimming down a river after capsizing their kayak or canoe[1], but can also be used for gear retrieval and for climbing during portages.

## Swimmer rescue[2]

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Usage of a throw bag in a Swift water rescue exercise

* Recognition – The party with the throw bag needs to see the swimmer and retrieve the throw bag.
* Preparation – Quickly the 'bagger' needs to play out about a meter of rope from the mouth of the bag, and try to get a partner to stand behind them holding onto them, preferably by the life jacket. The bagger, if they have time, should take the meter of revealed rope and take it around their back so they can hold the tail of the rope, and the line feeding into the bag with their body in the loop, resting the rope on their back.
* Communication – The 'bagger' needs to communicate to the swimmer that they are going to throw a rope, as the rope is best visible in the air, and can be lost by the swimmer when it is in the water. Shouting "rope rope rope" is a common industry standard by rafting companies.
* The Throw – The 'bagger' will grasp the meter of played out line in their off hand, and throw the bag either in an underhand or overhand fashion aiming to land the bag past the head of the swimmer, taking care to lead them as they will be moving downstream during the throw.
* Anchoring – If the rope is caught by the swimmer the thrower should never anchor themselves or you run the risk of ripping the rope out of the swimmers hands. The thrower should move down the gravel bar or river bank to allow a controlled tensioning of the rope and pendulum motion for the swimmer to swing to shore. The thrower should always choose a safe location to make the throw, but avoid creating an anchor other than what is needed for the safety of the thrower. The bagger or the swimmer should NOT wrap the rope around their hand, neck, or body.
* Swimmer position – The swimmer upon handling the rope needs to turn onto their back with their head pointed upstream and the rope going over their shoulder as they hold it unwrapped in both hands.
* The pendulum effect – On a straight river the swimmer will be naturally pushed by the current to the shore they have been bagged from. When they get to shore the bagger can start to pull them in, hand over hand.

## Gear Rescue – V Drag

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Applications of the throw bag to rescue gear in a river. Have parties on both sides of a river that is smaller than the length of the line. Throw a bag from one side of the river to the other with both parties holding an end. Attach a person who has a lifejacket with a strong swimmer harness and attach them to the line. Using angles, position them, the gear, and lower them down for rescue with either a pin kit or basic retrieval.

## References

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1. ^ Cavagnolo, Aaron. "Throw Bags: Uses and Buying Guide". Best Rafting and Kayaking. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
2. ^ "Rescue Bag Basics". Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2007-03-27.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Throw bags.

* Instructions for making a throw bag – CanyonWiki.com

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Bags and flexible containers

Carried|

* Bayong
* Bindle
* Briefcase
* Bug-out bag
* Dillybag
* Dromedary bag
* Flight bag
* Gaji bag
* Grocery bag
* Hambiliya
* Handbag
* Haversack
* Laundry bag
* Medical bag
* Money bag
* Nuclear briefcase
* Plastic shopping bag
* Red box (government)
* Reticule
* Reusable shopping bag
* Shell purse
* Shopping bag
* String bag
* Survival bag
* Swag
* Tote bag
* Tucker bag

Worn|

* Backpack (Canoe pack, Duluth pack)
* Bandolier bag
* Bivouac sack
* Book bag
* Fanny pack
* Golf bag
* Lightweight Rucksack
* Medicine bag
* Messenger bag
* Pack basket
* Pasiking
* Randoseru
* Sabretache
* Satchel
* Sporran
* Takiding

Luggage|

* Bug-out bag
* Carpet bag
* Diaper bag
* Diplomatic bag / pouch
* Duffel bag
* Garment bag
* Gig bag
* Gladstone bag
* Hobo bag
* Holdall
* Nomadic bag
* Norfolk case
* Portmanteau
* Saddlebag
* Suitcase
* Toiletry bag
* Train case
* Travel pack
* Trunk

Postal|

* Catcher pouch
* Mail bag
* Mail pouch
* Mail sack
* Mail satchel
* Mochila
* Padded envelope
* Portmanteau

Containers|

* Antistatic bag
* Bag-in-box
* Bin bag
* Biodegradable bag
* Bota bag
* Coffee bag
* Flexible intermediate bulk container
* Boil-in-bag
* Fuel bladder
* Mashk
* Milk bag
* Packet (container)
* Paper bag
* Paper sack
* Parfleche
* Pastry bag
* Pipe bag
* Plastic bag
* Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags
* Reusable shopping bag
* Sachet
* Security bag
* Shopping bag
* Stand-up pouch
* Thermal bag
* Tobacco pouch
* Trash bag
* Wineskin
* Zipper storage bag

Purses/handbags|

* Bayong
* Birkin bag
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* Handbag
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* Kinchaku
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* Messenger bag
* Minaudière
* Money bag
* Reticule
* Tote bag
* Wallet
* Wristlet

Other|

* Body bag
* Burn bag
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* Dry bag
* Electronic flight bag
* Feedbag
* Flour sack
* Gamow bag
* Gunny sack
* Poop bag
* Sandbag
* Showbag
* Sickness bag
* Sleeping bag
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* Throw bag
* Zuckertüte

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Lifesaving and lifeguarding

International standards bodies|

* International Lifesaving Federation
* International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation

National societies|

* DLRG
* Lifesaving South Africa
* Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth
* Australia
* Canada
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* Surf Life Saving Australia
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* United States Lifesaving Association
* RFESS - Royal Spanish Lifesaving Association
* Wasserwacht

Sub-national societies|

* The Hong Kong Life Saving Society

Topics|

* Lifesaving
* Lifesaving (sport)
* Lifeguard
* Surf lifesaving
* First aid
* Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
* Drowning chain
* Rip current

Awards|

* Lifesaving Medal
* Albert Medal for lifesaving
* Bronze Medallion
* Canada
* United Kingdom
* Bronze Cross
* National Lifeguard

Life-saving appliances|

* Lifebuoy
* Rescue buoy
* Throw bag
* Life saving reel
* IRB
* Surf ski
* Paddle board

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