First Aid
Have someone call a rescue squad (911) immediately.
Resuscitation
Begin mouth-to-mouth breathing as soon as possible. This
should be started immediately in the boat, in a life
preserver, or at the latest when the rescuer reaches
shallow water. It should be continued until the child is
brought to a medical facility; some children have
survived long submersions (especially in cold water).
Neck injury
If there is any possibility of a neck injury (for
example, a diving accident), protect the neck from any
bending or twisting. If the child is still in the water,
he or she can be helped to float on the surface until a
spine board is applied or until several people can remove
him while supporting his head and back as a unit.
Vomiting
Vomiting is common because the stomach is usually filled
with water in drowning. If vomiting occurs, quickly turn
the child on his or her side, face down, and try to keep
the water from entering the lungs. The lungs are usually
free of water because they are protected by spasm of the
vocal cords. Avoid pressure on the stomach during
resuscitation because it can trigger vomiting.
Prevention
Never leave a child under age 3 unattended in the
bathtub or a wading pool.
Never leave children who can't swim well unattended near
a swimming pool. (More children drown in backyard
swimming pools than at beaches or public pools.) Never
leave children unattended near spas or hot tubs. Risks
include entrapment in the outflow vent and overheating,
not just drowning.
Make sure that neighborhood pools are totally fenced off
and the gates are kept locked.
Try to arrange swimming lessons for your child before
age 8. (Children are often ready by age 4.)
Infant water programs should teach water "fun," not
"swimming." Children cannot be made "water safe" before
age 3. The American Academy of Pediatrics is opposed to
organized group swimming lessons under 3 years of age.
Infant programs that encourage submersion of the head
for more than a few seconds should be avoided because
some babies swallow enough pool water to cause seizures
and brain damage.
Caution children of all ages to check the depth of the
water before diving in and to avoid any diving in the
shallow end of a pool.
Caution children not to overbreathe as a way to stay
underwater longer. This practice can lead to passing
out underwater.
Caution the accomplished swimmer to never swim alone.
Continue to swim with a buddy.
