10 seconds at the pool
In films, drowning is loud: shouting, splashing, waving. In real life it's usually silent, and it can happen a few metres from a crowd of adults. Can you spot it?
What drowning really looks like
Someone who is drowning is using every bit of strength to get a breath. There's nothing left to shout or wave with.
- Head low in the water, mouth at the surface
- Head tilted back, mouth open
- Upright in the water, legs not kicking
- Arms pressing down at the sides, as if climbing a ladder
- Eyes glassy, closed or not focusing
- Hair over the forehead or eyes
- Not answering when you ask "Are you OK?"
- A noisy child who suddenly goes quiet
At the pool or the beach
One adult watches the water and does nothing else: no phone, no book, no chatting. Swap every 15 minutes so they stay sharp.
Children under five, and any child who can't swim well, should be close enough for you to touch, even in shallow water. Armbands don't replace an adult.
Most young children who drown at home slipped out to the pool when nobody expected them to. A fence with a self-closing gate on all four sides is the best barrier.
Ask "Are you OK?" If they can't answer, get them out at once. Shout for help, call 999 or 998, and start CPR if they aren't breathing normally.
Sources: the "instinctive drowning response" described by Dr Francesco Pia and used in lifeguard training; the World Health Organization's drowning fact sheet; the 10/20 lifeguard scanning rule (spot trouble within 10 seconds, reach it within 20). The game is a simplified illustration. In the UAE, call 999 (police) or 998 (ambulance) in an emergency. Learning CPR from a certified course is one of the best things a parent can do.