Immediate first aid could save a life
A person who has stopped breathing after being pulled from the water only has minutes before a lack of oxygen causes serious harm. In a drowning emergency, the actions taken by bystanders in those first critical moments can mean the difference between life and death.
Every summer, thousands of people head to Switzerland’s lakes, rivers and swimming pools daily to cool off and enjoy the outdoors. While water activities are generally safe, drowning remains a preventable cause of death and serious injury, particularly among children and inexperienced swimmers. Knowing how to recognise an emergency and respond quickly can significantly improve a person’s chances of survival.
The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and Swiss Resuscitation Council (SRC) updated their resuscitation guidelines in 2025, providing the latest evidence-based recommendations for recognising and treating drowning victims. These updates reinforce a simple message: act quickly. Safely rescuing the person from the water, calling the emergency services and starting first aid as soon as possible can make a real difference.
Key takeaways
Read on to learn:
- What to do immediately after a person has been removed from the water.
- The key first aid and resuscitation steps recommended in the 2025 ERC and SRC guidelines.
- When and how to call for emergency medical assistance.
- Why rapid action by bystanders can dramatically improve outcomes.
Whether you are a parent, swimmer, paddleboarder, or simply enjoy spending time near the water, these important skills could help you respond confidently in an emergency and potentially save a life.
Drowning first aid
The most important thing to remember is not to put yourself at risk.
- In first aid terms, we say: shout, reach or throw, don’t go.
- Shout to the person; get the person out of the water – if they’re still conscious, reach for them using a stick, a rope, or clothing, or throw a buoyancy aid to them.
- At the same time, shout for help from others and ask them to alert the emergency services.
- Don’t enter the water yourself unless you are trained to do so.
- Trained first aiders or lifeguards who enter the water should have a flotation device, lifebuoy, rescue tube or other rescue equipment.
Once the person is safely by the water’s edge, check for a RESPONSE:
- To do this, shake their shoulders.
- Speak to them – ask them: “Can you hear me? Are you OK?”
If they ARE RESPONDING:
- Remove any wet clothing, dry the person, and keep them warm.
- And CALL 144 for an ambulance here in Switzerland. Remember that 112 is the Europe-wide emergency number.
- The person must be checked over by a doctor, even if they appear well, as they may have taken water onboard into their lungs.
If they ARE NOT RESPONDING:
- Make sure the emergency services are on their way.
- Open their AIRWAY. With the person lying on their back, place one hand on their forehead and the other under their chin. Gently tilt their head back and lift their chin – this movement will open their airway.
- Then you can check for normal BREATHING – look to see if their chest is rising and falling, listen for breaths, feel for breaths on your cheek. But for no more than 10 seconds.
If they ARE BREATHING:
- Put the person into the RECOVERY POSITION – the safe position for an unconscious person with them lying on their side.
- Make sure someone has called 144 or 112 for an ambulance; dry them and keep them as warm as possible.
If they ARE NOT BREATHING:
- Again, make sure that an ambulance has been called.
- For a child rescued from water:
- Give 5 RESCUE BREATHS. Pinch their nose and make a seal around their mouth with your mouth, breathing into their mouth 5 times.
- Then give 15 CHEST COMPRESSIONS in the centre of their chest using one of your hands.
- Follow this with cycles of 2 BREATHS and 15 CHEST COMPRESSIONS until the emergency services arrive, or the child starts responding.
- For babies – that’s children under the age of 1 – the slight difference is that you can make a seal around their nose and their mouth with your mouth when giving breaths. You don’t need to pinch their nose. When giving chest compressions, encircle your hands around their chest and use both thumbs, placing one on top of the other, pushing down in the centre of their chest.
- For an adult rescued from water:
- Give 5 RESCUE BREATHS. Pinch their nose and make a seal around their mouth with your mouth, breathing into their mouth 5 times.
- Then give 30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS in the centre of their chest using both of your hands.
- Then give cycles of 2 BREATHS and 30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS until the emergency services arrive, or the person starts responding.
Why every minute matters
Drowning is primarily caused by a lack of oxygen. The sooner breathing is restored, and oxygen reaches the brain and other vital organs, the greater the chance of survival and recovery. Immediate actions by bystanders including calling for help, safely removing the person from the water, providing rescue breaths and starting CPR when needed, can bridge the critical gap before emergency medical teams arrive.
Many people who survive drowning do so because someone nearby recognised the emergency and acted quickly. You do not need to be a healthcare professional to make a difference. Knowing the correct first aid steps and having the confidence to use them can save a life.
Guidelines from the Swiss Resuscitation Council and the European Resuscitation Council provide more information about drowning.
And of course, joining a first aid training can give you the opportunity to practice these techniques on realistic manikins.
