Drowning
Drowning is when someone is unable to breathe because their nose and mouth are submerged in water, or in another liquid.

When someone’s drowning, it may not look like the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect from watching TV. When someone’s actually drowning, they won’t able to make any noise, so can easily go unnoticed, even if friends or family are nearby.

What to look for – Drowning
If someone has been rescued from drowning you need to check if they’re breathing or not.

If they aren’t breathing, then you’ll need to give CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) straight away.

What you need to do – Drowning
• As soon as the casualty has been rescued from the water, check if they’re breathing.

• Ask someone to call 999 or 112 for medical help.

• If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, give them five initial rescue breaths before starting CPR.

• Once you’ve done this, start CPR: 30 chest compressions, then two rescue breaths. Keep giving CPR until help arrives, the casualty regains responsiveness, or you’re too exhausted to keep going.

• If they start breathing again at any time, treat them for hypothermia by covering them with warm clothes and blankets. If they recover completely, replace their wet clothes with dry ones.

• Keep checking breathing, pulse and level of response until help arrives.