The World Health Organisation report that an estimated 236,000 people drown every year and is the leading causes of death for children aged between 5-14 years, with more than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, and swimming pools. 

 

These tragic stats are further compounded by the Royal Life Saving Society. The accidental drowning deaths amongst children in England have doubled since 2019-20. The number of children who lost their lives to drowning in 2019-20 was 20, and this number doubled in 2022-23 to 41. In total 125 children in England have accidentally died due to drowning in the last four years. 

Upon reflection we feel it’s important to take a few minutes to remind ourselves of the critical first aid steps to take if we find someone in this unfortunate situation. This article offers a brief overview of what to do in those first few important minutes and lays down simple but crucial steps that can be followed by anyone and potentially save a life! Whether you work around water, are spending time on the beach this summer, have kids who play in a paddling pool or are simply going for a walk at a nearby lake there is a chance you could come across someone who is drowning. 

 

The poet Stevie Smith wrote a well-known verse titled ‘Not Waving But Drowning’ - this line sums up how drowning can sometimes look, and how it can be hard to spot amongst a crowd of swimmers having fun! When we think of a drowning person we may imagine a person far out at sea, waving their arms frantically and bobbing under the water. This type of drowning is dramatic, loud and visible. Drowning is also known as ‘the silent killer’. A person can take water into their lungs and stop breathing quickly and quietly, without anyone around them noticing, so we can’t assume that somebody is fine just because they aren’t splashing or are in shallow water. 

The RNLI are regularly summoned to rescue people on paddleboards and inflatable toys that have blown further out to sea than expected or have got caught on a rip tide. In 2022 the lifeboat crews responded to 1465 such incidents doubling the number recorded in 2021! In such a situation, it’s easy to see how a person can quickly exhaust themself struggling in deep water. Equally the water doesn’t have to be deep for someone to drown. In fact just a few centimeters of water in a paddling pool or shallow bath can be just as dangerous. 

There is a slight difference between drowning and standard CPR protocols but a significant one. Taking a first aid course provides further understanding and empowers one in its practical application where swift CPR is crucial to give a casualty the best chance of survival. 

The main difference is that drowning CPR protocols start with five initial rescue breaths whereas standard CPR initiate the procedure with 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths. In a situation where a casualty is unconscious and not breathing because of drowning then giving five initial rescue breaths is critically important in providing oxygen to a casualty’s brain and vital organs. 

2. If you are alone with the casualty, call 999, put yourself on speakerphone and tell the call handler you are with someone who is not breathing suspected of drowning. The call handler will talk you through the steps and help until medical help arrives. 

 

 

 

The only exception to the protocol for administering chest compression on a child is the use of one hand. Two hands may be used to compress the chest if adequate depth is not achieved by the use of one hand. 

5. The 999-call handler may recommend the use of a nearby defibrillator. If there is another person on the scene send them to get a defibrillator whilst you continue CPR - do not leave the casualty. If you use a defibrillator the machine provides all the instructions, you’ll need to safely carry out the procedure. 

6. If the casualty starts breathing and the 999-call handler permits you to stop CPR, try and keep the casualty warm. Cover them in any jumpers, coats, blankets or other warm items that are available as they are at risk of hypothermia. 

It’s unlikely that you’ll need to administer CPR, but recalling such a vital skill will help you maintain composure in an emergency to make the most of those critical first few minutes if you ever come across a person who has drowned and is unconscious. Whether at work, at home or on holiday, being proficient with your CPR skills will equip you with confidence when it’s least expected.