How To Save Someone From Drowning : The Ultimate Guide

According to the Red Cross, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children under 14 years old. The longer someone is underwater, the more brain cells they will lose and the less likely they are to survive.

Most people associate drowning with deep water. However, drowning can happen in a backyard pool or any other body of water that’s less than 24 inches deep. It only takes a little water to suffocate and drown someone.

Drowning can happen quickly. Hence, knowing how to react could save someone’s life. Here are some tips on how you can help save someone from drowning.

Best Ways on How To Save Someone From Drowning

When to act

Drowning happens quickly and is not easy to detect in the water. So, unless you’re an expert, it can be hard to tell if someone is actually in danger with just a glance.

But don’t fret! Here are some warning signs that could mean someone is drowning:

• Splashing sound
• Head tilted back with the mouth in the water
• Arms and legs thrashing
• Gasping for breath or making choking sounds.
• You see them turn blue or pale

If you see any of these signs, you must act immediately!

The 5-step rescue plan

1.Call for help

If you’re near water and see someone fighting to stay above the surface, it may be time for you to help! The best way to do this is to call 911 or use the emergency phone at your nearest beach, pool, or lake.

If you’re unable to call, yell for help. You can do so from a high point, such as a tree.

However, if you’re unable to reach emergency services, follow these steps:

2.Throw them something

If you can’t get close enough to the person, throw them a life preserver or some type of flotation device. This could be an inner tube, noodle, or something else that will help keep them afloat.

3.Swim towards them (If you’re a good swimmer)

However tempting it might be, be sure not to jump into the water yourself unless you have learned how to swim and are a strong swimmer.

4.Grab the victim the right way

Grabbing a drowning person the wrong way might make the situation even worse. So, how do you grab them safely and pull them ashore?

Well, here are the steps to follow:

• If they’re floating face down in the water, you should turn them over on their back and push them up so that their head is on top of the water. You should also do this if they’re conscious but can’t swim because it will help them move their arms to swim to safety.
• Grab them with both hands under their armpits
• Pull them backwards so they can use their arms for support and leverage
• Kick your feet down and then pull up and towards shore (this will bring both of you closer)

5.Perform CPR & mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

If the victim isn’t breathing or seems to be in distress, perform CPR. While at it, ensure to give a rescue breath.

To do this, place the victim on their back. Then, start doing 100 compressions per minute. According to the American Heart Association, this should be held for 10 minutes. Also, ensure to tip the head back to allow air to reach the brain.

If they’re not breathing or have no pulse, first open their airways by tilting their head back with one hand and lifting their chin with your other hand.

Give them one breath of air if they can breathe on their own. The best way to do this is through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Causes of drowning

In most cases, people drown because they panic and forget to use the safety skills they know. Also, they may have an underlying health condition like epilepsy or autism that can increase their risk of drowning.

Conclusion

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children under 14 years old. Being trained in CPR could mean the difference between life and death. If you are planning to invest in any sort of CPR training, then make sure you do your research and get the most affordable one that could help save a life.

You should also take the time to read through the steps in this article, so you can respond accordingly in the event that someone you care for is drowning.