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First Aid

Drowning

​​​​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:
  1. Place the victim on a firm, flat surface.
  2. Check for responsiveness: call their name, tap their shoulders, and watch for any movement or breathing.
  3. Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin (unless a spinal injury is suspected).
  4. Check for normal breathing (not just gasping): watch for chest rise for 5–10 seconds.

If the drowning victim is not breathing and unresponsive:
  • If you are alone:
    1. Start CPR immediately for 2 minutes (about 5 cycles).
    2. Call emergency services (997) and resume CPR.
  • If someone is with you:
    1. One person starts CPR.
    2. The other calls emergency services and brings an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available.​
Adult CPR steps:
  1. ​Open the airway (tilt head back, lift chin).
  2. Give 2 rescue breaths (about 1 second each).
  3. 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.​



 

Last Update : 18 August 2025 11:55 AM
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