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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child was found in water, is struggling in water, or was just pulled out and is not responding normally.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Child is face-down or submerged in water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Child is blue, limp, or not crying after being pulled out.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Child is coughing heavily, vomiting, or very sleepy after a water incident.
Scene hazards: Deep water, Current, Slippery pool deck, Electrical equipment near water
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove the child from water — reach or throw first; enter water only if safe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay the child on a flat surface. Shout for someone to call 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check breathing for 10 seconds. If not breathing — start chest compressions with one hand (infant: two fingers).
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Push about one-third the depth of the chest, fast — 100-120 per minute.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If breathing but unconscious — place in recovery position on their side.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cover with dry towels. Remove wet clothes if possible without delaying CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "A child was drowning. They are [breathing/not breathing]. Send ambulance."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell them the child's approximate age and how long they were in water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Every child who has been submerged or nearly drowned needs emergency hospital care — complications can appear hours later.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT hold the child upside down or slap their back to "drain water" — this wastes time and can cause injury.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume the child is fine because they coughed — they need hospital evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT leave the child alone even for a moment after a water incident.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should hang a child upside down after drowning
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — This does not remove water from the lungs effectively and delays CPR. Start compressions immediately.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Critical minutes lost while performing useless "draining" techniques.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Children can drown in very little water — a bucket, bathtub, or shallow pool edge. Near-drowning can still cause brain damage from lack of oxygen.