Annually there are an estimated 236,000 drowning deaths worldwide, making drowning the third leading cause of unintentional injury death. When it comes to dealing with water, you need to understand the risks involved.
Swimming is a great form of exercise, but if you aren’t careful, you can easily become a drowning victim.
This is why it’s crucial to know how to rescue a drowning person and understand various rescue tips. You can’t just rely on lifeguards; everyone should have these basic skills if they’re spending time near water.
Keep reading to find out more about what to do if you encounter a drowning person.
Identifying an Active Drowning
Before you jump in to save someone, you first need to know the signs of drowning. It’s a good habit to scan and observe the water periodically. You need to keep a lookout for signs of distress and possibly dangerous situations.
For instance, if you see people swimming near choppy water, it can be a good idea to keep an eye on them to ensure the situation doesn’t become dangerous. You also want to keep an eye on any children or elderly people that might not be strong swimmers.
It’s also important to be able to identify an active drowning. This means the person will be impaired due to the inhalation of water. The main signs to keep a lookout for include the following:
- They won’t be able to call for help
- They will be vertical in the water but unable to move toward safety
- They won’t be able to move their arms to wave for help
- They will struggle on the surface for 20-60 seconds before they are completely submerged
- They will tilt their heads back on instinct to keep their mouth and nose out of the water
To ensure you have the right knowledge and skills, it might be a good idea to take a water safety training online course.
Prepare to Reach the Person
Once you’ve identified a potential drowning situation, you need to act quickly. Before you jump in, you need to notify another person to keep an eye on you both. This will help keep you safe during the process and prepare bystanders to help with the rescue.
Do not go after the drowning victim if you’re not a strong swimmer yourself; in this case, it will be better to simply call for help. If you go in and can’t get the person out of the water, you also run the risk of drowning.
If you’re confident in your skills, you can attempt a rescue with the assistance of a floatation device.
Know What to Do to Rescue a Drowning Person
When it comes to rescuing a drowning person, you need to be able to spot the signs early on. The quicker you catch the drowning; the more likely rescue will be. It’s important to stay vigilant while you’re near water; disaster can strike at any moment.
Water safety is important for everyone to know, but there is also fun to be had. Check out our blog for some fun water activities the whole family can enjoy.
