TL;DR
Drowning can happen quickly and often without shouting or splashing. If you suspect someone is drowning, call 911 immediately, rescue them only if it’s safe to do so, and begin CPR if necessary. Have them seek medical attention, even if they appear okay. Knowing the warning signs and acting quickly can make the difference between life and death.
Drowning can occur both quickly and quietly, and a person can drown in surprisingly little water. A person in trouble may not scream, splash, or wave for help. They may bob at the surface, struggle to keep their mouth above water, or suddenly become still. In a drowning emergency, fast action matters, but your safety must come first.
1. Call for Help ASAP
The moment you suspect someone is drowning:
- Shout for help.
- Tell a specific person: “Call 911 now.”
- Ask someone to get an AED if one is nearby.
- Keep your eyes on the person in the water.
- Do not assume someone else has called.
If you are alone, call 911 as soon as you can safely do so. If the person is not breathing, begin care immediately after getting them out of the water.
2. Rescue Safely: Reach or Throw First
Do not rush into the water unless you are trained and know it is safe. If the water is over your head, a panicked drowning victim can unintentionally pull you under with them.
Use this rescue order:
- Reach: Lie down to keep yourself stable and reach with a pole, towel, branch, paddle, or pool skimmer.
- Throw: Throw something that floats, such as a life ring, pool noodle, cooler, kickboard, or life jacket.
- Row: Use a boat, board, or other floating object if available and safe.
- Go only if trained: Enter the water only if you have rescue training, the scene is safe, and you have flotation support.
A safe rescue means not making yourself a second victim. Keep yourself low, use flotation whenever possible, and avoid direct contact with a panicked person unless you are trained to manage it.
3. Check the Person After Rescue
Once the person is out of the water:
If the person is unresponsive:
- Move them to a safe, flat area.
- Tap their shoulders and shout, “Are you okay?”
- Check for normal breathing and signs of circulation.
- Look for severe coughing, confusion, blue or gray skin, or extreme tiredness.
If the person is awake and breathing:
- Keep them calm.
- Keep them warm, and remove wet clothing if possible.
- Cover them with towels, blankets, or dry clothing.
- Monitor their breathing closely.
- Wait for emergency medical help.
Even if the person seems better, they should be evaluated after a serious drowning event, especially if they were underwater, lost consciousness, needed rescue breathing, or are still coughing.
If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, place them on their side in the recovery position. This helps keep the airway open and allows fluid or vomit to drain from the mouth. Continue watching their breathing until help arrives.
4. Start CPR if There Are No Signs of Circulation
Drowning usually causes a lack of oxygen. That means rescue breaths are especially important when someone is not breathing after being pulled from the water.
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally:
- Place them on their back on a firm, flat surface.
- Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin.
- Give 2 rescue breaths if you are trained.
- Give 30 chest compressions.
- Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths.
- Use an AED as soon as it is available.
For chest compressions:
- Place your hands in the center of the chest.
- Push hard and fast.
- Let the chest fully rise between compressions.
- Do not stop unless the person breathes normally, another trained rescuer takes over, an AED tells you to stop, or emergency services arrive.
Before using an AED:
- Make both you and the victim are not in standing water.
- Dry the chest quickly.
- Apply the pads as shown on the device.
- Follow the AED voice prompts.
If you are not trained or are not comfortable giving breaths, do hands-only CPR. Chest compressions are still better than doing nothing.
Do NOT do the following:
- Do not waste time trying to “drain water” from the lungs.
- Do not hold the person upside down.
- Do not press on the stomach unless they are clearly choking.
Understand the “Secondary Drowning” Myth
Terms like “secondary drowning” and “dry drowning” are often used to describe complications after a drowning emergency, but the terms are misleading. Drowning does not suddenly happen days later without warning. However, a person who inhaled water can develop breathing problems after the incident. It happens when fluid builds up in the lungs, reducing one’s ability to take in oxygen.
Get medical help right away if the person develops:
- Trouble breathing
- A worsening cough
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Repeated vomiting
- Confusion
- Extreme sleepiness
- Pale, blue, or gray skin
- Fast, noisy, or labored breathing
Symptoms after a water emergency should always be taken seriously. When in doubt, call 911 or seek urgent medical care.
Prevent Drowning Before It Happens
Prevention is the best protection. Use several layers of safety, especially around children.
Important prevention steps include:
- Watch children closely around all water.
- Stay within arm’s reach of young children.
- Use properly fitted life jackets near lakes, rivers, oceans, and boats.
- Choose swimming areas with lifeguards when possible.
- Avoid alcohol when swimming, boating, or supervising children.
- Teach children swimming and water safety skills.
- Fence pools on all four sides with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- Empty kiddie pools, buckets, and tubs after use.
- Keep bathroom doors closed when young children are present.
- Swim with a buddy.
- Pay attention to weather, waves, currents, and water temperature.
Final Thoughts
In a drowning emergency, remember:
- Call 911.
- Reach or throw before going in.
- Get the person out safely.
- Check breathing.
- Start CPR if they are not breathing normally.
- Use an AED if available.
- Watch for breathing problems afterward.
Quick, calm action can save a life. Protect yourself first, rescue safely, begin CPR when needed, and get emergency medical help as soon as possible. Completing a CPR Certification course will help give you the confidence to act quickly.