“What are the first steps when someone drowns?”
I am a mother of two and I have just put my two boys in a swimming class. As a precautionary measure, I would like to know what are the first few steps to take in case someone is drowning?
3 Answers
The best thing for you to do is take a basic life support course. These are inexpensive, only take 1 or 2 days, and teach you how to deal with all kinds of emergencies including drowning. They are offered by the Red Cross and YMCAs as well as others. If you google Basic life support course in your area you should find plenty.
Get the person out of the water. Check for breathing and pulse (in case of small children, feel for pulse in the inside surface of the arm). Call for help (911). If no breathing or pulse, begin chest compressions (CPR).
Brynn Karch
Emergency Physician
It's excellent that you are proactively preparing yourself to be ready if anyone should ever need help. Here would be the critical first steps:
First, get the person out of the water -
Throw them a rescue buoy, ring, float, or life vest to allow the person to remain on top of the surface. If the person is close by, use a pole, rope, etc., that could be used to pull the person to land or the side of the pool. Importantly, if you do not know how to swim AND the water is over your head, do NOT enter the water yourself as struggling drowning individuals frequently drown the rescuer who is not trained in swimming water rescue. If you are not trained in swimming water rescue, seek the closest help available. Rest assured, if your children are in lessons, they will be well protected.
Second, drowning resuscitation -
This follows CPR guidelines that can be found on line in the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/cpr-training) or the American Heart Association (http://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/FindACourse/UCM_473162_Find-A-Course.jsp).
Here is the basic CPR link from the ARC website which is well written and clearly stated. As you will see, the keys are opening the airway, generally by using a jaw thrust. Rescue breathing using mouth-to-mouth breaths, and, if needed, CPR with chest compressions (https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps).
In summary, 1. use the tools available on site to remove the individual from the water; 2. follow the basic CPR steps.
For you, I see the next critical step is taking a basic CPR course as outlined above.
First, get the person out of the water -
Throw them a rescue buoy, ring, float, or life vest to allow the person to remain on top of the surface. If the person is close by, use a pole, rope, etc., that could be used to pull the person to land or the side of the pool. Importantly, if you do not know how to swim AND the water is over your head, do NOT enter the water yourself as struggling drowning individuals frequently drown the rescuer who is not trained in swimming water rescue. If you are not trained in swimming water rescue, seek the closest help available. Rest assured, if your children are in lessons, they will be well protected.
Second, drowning resuscitation -
This follows CPR guidelines that can be found on line in the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/cpr-training) or the American Heart Association (http://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/FindACourse/UCM_473162_Find-A-Course.jsp).
Here is the basic CPR link from the ARC website which is well written and clearly stated. As you will see, the keys are opening the airway, generally by using a jaw thrust. Rescue breathing using mouth-to-mouth breaths, and, if needed, CPR with chest compressions (https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps).
In summary, 1. use the tools available on site to remove the individual from the water; 2. follow the basic CPR steps.
For you, I see the next critical step is taking a basic CPR course as outlined above.
