06/19/2026
If you pull a child from a pool or a lake and they are not breathing, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Here is what to do.
𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹. Move them to a flat, firm surface, on their back. Have someone call 911 right away. If you are alone, give about 2 minutes of CPR first, then call.
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆. Tilt the head back, lift the chin.
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀. Give 2 breaths, each about 1 second, just enough to make the chest gently rise.
𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗣𝗥. 30 chest compressions, then 2 breaths. For an infant, use 2 fingers in the center of the chest. For a small child, one hand. Push about one-third the depth of the chest, fast.
𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 until they start breathing, an AED takes over, or EMS arrives. If an AED is available, use it as soon as you can.
𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Drowning is a 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗼𝗻𝗲, so children and infants need breaths included.
𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗣𝗥 𝘁𝗼 "𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀." Compressions and breaths move air and blood.
Anyone pulled from the water should be 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗠𝗦, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲. Secondary effects can show up hours later.
If you have not refreshed your CPR in a while, this is the week. We teach CPR, AED, and first aid for families and workplaces. Message us before pool season hits full stride.