Introduction: The Hidden Dangers of a Summer Swim
As the summer heat intensifies, a cool dip in a pool, lake, or the sea is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s a time for fun, relaxation, and making memories. However, these refreshing moments can carry serious risks. According to Doç. Dr. Fatih Büyükcam of Memorial Ataşehir Hospital’s Emergency Service, drowning is a tragically common occurrence, second only to traffic accidents as a cause of accidental death in Turkey.
Knowing how to recognize a drowning person and what to do in the critical moments that follow can be life-saving. Signs of a person in distress in the water include:
- Difficulty breathing, or noisy, rapid breathing
- Foaming at the mouth or a buildup of phlegm
- Blue discoloration on the face, lips, and fingernails
- General distress, confusion, and disorientation
- Loss of consciousness
While many of us have a general idea of what to do in a water emergency, some of the most critical, expert-backed steps are not widely known. This guide provides a clear, sequential first-aid plan that could make all the difference when seconds count.
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The Critical First-Aid Sequence
A Note Before You Reach Shore: The Shallow Water Exception
In the desperate moments of a water rescue, every second is vital. Surprisingly, you don’t always have to wait until you are on dry land to begin resuscitation. If the victim is unresponsive in shallow water where you can stand securely, you can begin artificial respiration (rescue breaths) immediately. However, if the rescue is happening in deep water, the absolute priority remains getting the person to shore as quickly and safely as possible.
Step 1 on Land: Your First Move Isn’t CPR—It’s Your Phone.
After successfully pulling a drowning person from the water, your immediate instinct might be to start first aid. However, the expert advice is clear: the very first and most critical action you must take on land is to call emergency services (112). All other life-saving interventions should only begin after this call has been made.
Why this is critical: Your interventions are a bridge to professional medical care. Ensuring that advanced help is dispatched immediately is the single most important part of the rescue, and starting that process without delay is the ultimate priority.
Step 2: Check for Breathing and a Pulse.
Once help is on the way, lay the person on their back and immediately assess their vital signs. Check carefully to see if they are breathing and if you can detect a pulse. This simple check is the most important diagnostic step you will take, as it determines every action that follows.
Why this is critical: Responding correctly means tailoring your aid to the victim’s specific condition. Administering CPR to someone with a pulse can be harmful, while failing to do so for someone without one is fatal. This assessment is non-negotiable.
Step 3: Administer the Correct Aid Based on Vitals.
Based on what you found in Step 2, take one of the following three actions.
- If the person IS breathing and HAS a pulse: Place the person in the recovery position (on their side, with their head tilted back slightly to keep the airway open). If they are wearing wet clothes, remove them and cover the person with a blanket. Wait for emergency services to arrive.
- If the person is NOT breathing but HAS a pulse: The immediate need is to restore breathing. Begin rescue breaths (artificial respiration) by giving 5-6 breaths mouth-to-mouth. Once they begin breathing on their own, turn them to the recovery position.
- If the person is NOT breathing and has NO pulse: You must begin full Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) immediately.
- Position the person on their back on a firm surface.
- Deliver chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute.
- After every 30 chest compressions, deliver 2 rescue breaths.
- Continue this 30:2 cycle without stopping until medical professionals arrive and take over.
A Key Maneuver Before Resuscitation: Clearing the Airway If you suspect water is obstructing the airway before starting rescue breaths or CPR, there is a specific technique to help clear it. Lift the person from under their abdomen with both of your hands. This motion helps water drain from the airway, making your resuscitation efforts more effective.
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Prevention is Key: Two Major Risk Factors to Understand
For Children, Panic is as Dangerous as the Water Itself.
Even if a child knows how to swim and is equipped with flotation devices like armbands or a swim ring, they must be under constant parental supervision. The danger is not just about their swimming ability, but also their psychological response to a problem. Experts warn that even good swimmers can encounter an unexpected issue, panic, and begin thrashing instead of trying to swim. This panic response can quickly lead to a dangerous situation.
Why this is critical: This insight reminds parents that water safety is about more than just swimming lessons and equipment. Understanding that a child’s panicked reaction can override their training underscores the non-negotiable need for vigilant, uninterrupted supervision.
Alcohol is a Major Risk Factor, Even for Strong Swimmers.
Entering the water after consuming alcohol is identified as a frequent cause of fatal drownings. It’s a mistake to assume that being a proficient swimmer negates this risk. Many deadly incidents involve people who know how to swim but have had their judgment, coordination, and physical abilities impaired by alcohol.
Why this is critical: This fact debunks the dangerous myth that swimming skill provides immunity from the effects of alcohol in the water. It serves as a stark reminder that alcohol and swimming are a potentially lethal combination, regardless of one’s confidence or experience in the water.
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Conclusion: Preparedness is Your Best Lifeguard
The joy of summer water activities should always be paired with a healthy respect for the risks involved. While you can’t predict when an emergency will happen, you can control how prepared you are to respond. Being equipped with the correct, expert-backed knowledge is the most powerful tool for preventing a tragedy. Following a few key, evidence-based steps in the right order can truly make the difference between life and death.
Now that you know the expert-backed steps, do you feel prepared to act correctly in an emergency?
