While you may be eager to get out on the water for a whitewater rafting trip, it's important that you stay safe during the experience. That's why you should know what to do if you fall into the water when out rafting. Stay Calm The first thing you need to do is stay calm. A common mistake that people make is to panic, which will cause them to have trouble breathing and use a lot of energy when the best thing that you can do is stay calm and float.