Drowning First Aid Steps
If you witness a drowning incident:
- If you cannot swim or are not trained in water rescue:
- Do not enter the water.
- Try to extend a stick or rope, or throw a flotation device to the victim.
- If you are trained and confident in your ability to rescue:
- Safely remove the victim from the water, then proceed with the following steps:
Assess the drowning victim immediately after water rescue:
- Place the victim on a firm, flat surface.
- Check for responsiveness: call their name, tap their shoulders, and watch for any movement or breathing.
- Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin (unless a spinal injury is suspected).
- Check for normal breathing (not just gasping): watch for chest rise for 5–10 seconds.
If the drowning victim is not breathing and unresponsive:
- Start CPR immediately for 2 minutes (about 5 cycles).
- Call emergency services (997) and resume CPR.
- One person starts CPR.
- The other calls emergency services and brings an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available.
Adult CPR steps:
- Open the airway (tilt head back, lift chin).
- Give 2 rescue breaths (about 1 second each).
- Perform 30 chest compressions:
- Position: Center of the chest (lower half of the sternum).
- Depth: About 5–6 cm (2–2.5 inches).
- Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute.
4. Repeat 30:2 ratio (30 compressions, 2 breaths).
5. Continue until:
- Normal breathing returns.
- EMS arrives.
- You are physically exhausted.
If an AED is available:
- Use it as soon as possible.
- Move the victim to a dry place and dry the chest before use.
- Follow the device’s voice prompts.
If the drowning victim is conscious and breathing:
- Place them in the recovery position.
- Keep them warm.
- Monitor continuously.
- Take them to the hospital even if they appear normal.
If the victim is breathing but unconscious:
- Place in the recovery position.
- Monitor breathing and pulse.
- Call emergency services (997) immediately.
For infants (under 1 year old):
- Use two fingers at the center of the chest (below the nipple line).
- For rescue breaths, cover both nose and mouth.
Important warnings:
- Do not try to remove water from the mouth or press on the chest/abdomen—this is ineffective and can cause injury.
- CPR takes priority over attempts to “expel water.”
- Even if the victim regains consciousness and normal breathing, they must be taken to the hospital for lung evaluation, as delayed complications may occur.