Drowning in Children

In this article

• Call 911 if your child:
• 1. Take the Child Out of the Water
• 2. Get Help, if You Are Not Alone
• 3. Check for Breathing and Responsiveness
• 4.  If the Child Is Not Breathing, Start Rescue Breathing
• 5. Begin Chest Compressions
• 6. Repeat the Process

5. Begin Chest Compressions

• Place two fingers on the breastbone.
• Begin rapidly pressing down on the chest about 11/2 inches deep and then releasing the pressure. Make sure you're not pressing on the end of the breastbone.
• Do 30 chest compressions, at the rate of 100 per minute. Let the chest rise completely between pushes.
• Check to see if the baby has started breathing. (Watch to see if the chest rises and falls on its own.)

• Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest in line with the nipples. You can put your other hand on top of that hand to help push.
• Begin rapidly pressing down on the chest about 2 inches deep and then releasing the pressure. Make sure you're not pressing down on the child's ribs.
• Do 30 chest compressions, at the rate of 100 per minute. Let the chest rise completely between pushes.
• Check to see if the child has started breathing. (Watch to see if the chest rises and falls on its own.)

6. Repeat the Process

• Give 2 breaths, followed by 30 chest compressions.
• Continue this cycle of 2 breaths and 30 compressions until the child starts breathing or until emergency help arrives.