Which maneuver is called an extension assist?

An extension assist is specifically identified as a reaching technique with a flotation device. This maneuver allows a lifeguard to extend a flotation device, such as a rescue tube or buoy, toward a drowning victim who is in distress but remains within a safe distance. The use of the flotation device is crucial as it provides vital support to the individual in the water, enabling them to grasp it and help themselves while also allowing the lifeguard to stay at a safe distance. This technique emphasizes reaching out without putting the rescuer at risk, thereby maintaining safety while providing assistance to the victim.

The other options do not accurately describe the extension assist. For instance, methods of entering the water or general rescue techniques can involve different approaches that do not specifically denote the use of a flotation device for reaching. Techniques that include a combination of strokes refer to swimming or moving in the water rather than the specific act of assisting a distressed swimmer from a distance with a flotation aid.