Rescuing a drowning victim is a race against time. Drowning progresses rapidly; without timely intervention, breathing and heartbeat can cease—leading to death—within just 4 to 6 minutes. The mortality rate reaches 65% after 6 to 9 minutes of submersion, and rises to 100% after more than 25 minutes.
However, if proper aid is administered within 1 to 2 minutes, the success rate for saving the victim can reach 100%.
First aid steps:
① Quickly clear any debris or foreign matter from the victim’s mouth and nose.
② Loosen their collar and lay them flat to keep the airway open, then administer two rescue breaths.
③ Turn the victim’s head to the side and perform CPR chest compressions; the compressions will naturally allow accumulated water to drain from the stomach.
④ Follow a cycle of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths until the victim regains consciousness or professional emergency personnel arrive.