I believe everyone has already heard about the recent drowning incident at the Nanlong Reservoir in Jieyang City, Guangdong.

So, what should our fellow travelers do if they really drown while going stream tracing or rafting?
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Psychological Tactics
Calm people survive longer

First and foremost, stay calm. Do not flail your arms and legs or struggle desperately — this reduces entanglement by aquatic plants and conserves energy. As long as you don’t thrash about or wave your arms frantically, your body will maintain balance in the water, preventing you from sinking too quickly.
2
Physiological Tactics
Body coordination helps you survive longer

Apart from calling for help, once you fall into the water, immediately hold your breath, kick off your shoes, and then relax your limbs. When you feel yourself beginning to float, try to stay on your back with your head tilted back so your nose is above the water to breathe. Breathe in through your mouth and exhale through your nose to avoid choking. Exhale shallowly and inhale deeply. When you take a deep breath, your body’s density drops to 0.967, making you slightly lighter than water. Since your lungs act like a large air sac, holding your breath makes your body lighter than water, helping you float to the surface (when exhaling, your body’s density is 1.057, slightly heavier than water).
3
Outside Assistance
Obey instructions — you will survive !

When a rescuer appears, as long as you’re still conscious, never panic and grab at the rescuer’s hands, legs, waist, or other parts. Always follow the rescuer’s instructions and let them guide you to shore. Otherwise, not only will you not be saved, but you might endanger the rescuer’s life as well.
Entangled in Aquatic Plants
Self-Rescue Method
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First, stay calm. Do not tread water or move your limbs randomly, as this may make it harder to free yourself or cause you to sink deeper into the mud. Use the backstroke (keep your legs straight and paddle backward with your palms) to slowly retreat along your original path. Alternatively, lie flat on the water’s surface with your legs apart and free yourself with your hands. If you have a small knife, cut the aquatic plants. Otherwise, try kicking them away or sliding them off your limbs like taking off socks. If you can’t free yourself, call for help immediately. After freeing yourself, gently kick and swim away, and leave the area with dense aquatic plants as soon as possible.
Trapped in a Vortex
Self-Rescue Method
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Vortices often occur where rivers suddenly widen or narrow, around sharp bends, where there are protruding rocks or depressions on the riverbed, or where the riverbed is uneven. They are especially common during flash floods and sudden rises in water levels. Vortices also frequently appear in coastal waters, so be extra cautious. Areas with vortices usually have debris, leaves, and other objects circling the vortex, which can help you spot them early. Try to avoid getting close. If you’re already near one, do not tread water — instead, immediately lie flat on the water’s surface and swim quickly along the edge of the vortex using the crawl stroke. The pull is weaker at the edges of a vortex, and larger objects are less likely to be sucked in, so keep your body flat on the surface. Do not stand and tread water or dive underwater.
Exhaustion
Self-Rescue Method
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Swimming after excessive fatigue or overexerting yourself while swimming can easily lead to cramps or drowning due to physical exhaustion.
If you feel cold or tired, swim back to shore immediately. If you are far from shore or too exhausted to return right away, float on your back to conserve energy.
Raise one arm, relax your body, and allow the rescuer to save you. Do not cling tightly to the rescuer.
If no one comes, continue floating until you regain your strength, then swim back to shore.