CPR and Water Rescue: Common Questions

Shout for help and get someone to call 911 right away. Alert the lifeguard if there is one. Then help from land: reach with a pole or throw something that floats, without putting yourself in danger. The American Red Cross (opens in a new tab) adds that if you are alone, give 2 minutes of care, then call emergency services, and that rescue breathing, CPR and an AED come next once the person is out of the water. Read the first minutes of a drowning emergency.

Source: redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Stay out of the water and help from the edge. Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab) says safe, simple rescue means reaching or throwing a flotation aid from the water's edge without going in. The National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) warns that many people have died trying to rescue someone, so keep your feet on land while you reach or throw, and keep shouting for help. See reach or throw, don't go.

Sources: watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab), weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

It is the American Red Cross rule for helping someone in trouble in the water. Reach means holding out a pole, branch, towel or paddle while you stay on land. Throw means tossing something that floats, such as a ring buoy, life jacket or cooler, and telling the person to grab it. Don't go means you never swim out to them unless you are a trained rescuer. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) warns you could drown yourself. See Reach or throw, don't go.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes, in one important way. Drowning starts with breathing failure, so the 2024 American Heart Association and AAP guidelines (opens in a new tab) say resuscitation must restore breathing as much as circulation. That is why rescue breaths matter. The same guidelines say only trained rescuers should give breaths in the water, and chest compressions start once the person is on land or a boat. Learn the exact steps in a hands-on class, not from a web page. See where to learn CPR.

Sources: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab), watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says parents and caregivers should know CPR, basic rescue skills and how to get emergency help, and suggests finding classes with infant-specific training through groups such as the American Red Cross. Its 2026 recommendations (opens in a new tab) also say caregivers and teens should learn CPR and safe rescue. Babies and young children are the age group most likely to drown, so this class is worth an afternoon. See water safety for babies.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association both run CPR classes you can search by ZIP code, in person, online, or a mix of both. Hospitals and community centers also offer them, according to Pool Safely (opens in a new tab). In New York City, the FDNY Free CPR Program (opens in a new tab) teaches a free 30-minute hands-only CPR and AED class; it is not a certification class, and groups of 15 or more can request one. Our guide where to learn CPR lists the class finders.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), atlas.heart.org (opens in a new tab), poolsafely.gov (opens in a new tab), nyc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Red Cross CPR certification lasts 2 years, according to the American Red Cross (opens in a new tab). Classes come online only, blended (online plus an in-person skills check) or fully in person, and the Red Cross notes that an online-only certificate may not meet workplace requirements. Pool Safely (opens in a new tab) reminds families to keep certification current once they have it. Put your renewal date in your phone's calendar the day you finish. See where to learn CPR.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), poolsafely.gov (opens in a new tab)

It is better than doing nothing, but drowning victims also need breaths. Because drowning is a breathing emergency, the 2024 AHA and AAP guidelines (opens in a new tab) say resuscitation must restore breathing as much as circulation, and Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab) recommends learning CPR with both chest compressions and rescue breaths. If you only know hands-only CPR, call 911 and use what you know. Then take a full class that includes breaths. See Hands-only CPR and Rescue breaths.

Sources: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab), watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab)

No, unless you are a trained rescuer with a flotation device. The National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) says that if you must enter the water, never go in without flotation and keep it between you and the person in trouble. Human chains can pull more people into danger. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says not to attempt a rip current rescue yourself unless you are a trained beach lifeguard. Call 911, reach or throw, and keep watching the person. See helping someone in a rip current.

Sources: weather.gov (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes, if they show any warning signs. Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab) says anyone with a cough that will not stop, any loss of consciousness, a need for rescue breathing or CPR, chest pain or shortness of breath, or confusion or unusual tiredness after trouble in the water should be checked by medical professionals. Signs start right away, but breathing trouble can get worse over the next few hours. Call 911 for breathing problems. See after a scary moment in the water.

Source: watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab)

Not as a medical term. Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab) says dry, wet, delayed, secondary and near drowning are not medically accepted terms. Drowning symptoms start right away; they do not disappear and then return days later. Breathing can still get worse over a few hours after a scare, so watch for a cough that won't stop, trouble breathing, confusion or unusual sleepiness, and get care if you see them. Read what parents need to know about dry drowning.

Source: watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab)

At minimum, a phone and something to reach or throw. Pool Safely (opens in a new tab) says to have a phone close by at all times so you can call for help, and Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab) teaches rescue by reaching or throwing a flotation aid from the edge. A reaching pole and a ring buoy on a line are the classic tools, and the AAP (opens in a new tab) says weak or non-swimmers should wear life jackets at a pool. If your community pool has an AED, learn where it hangs. See pool rescue equipment.

Sources: poolsafely.gov (opens in a new tab), watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab), nhlbi.nih.gov (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Anything that floats and is easy to grab. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) suggests a life jacket, a cooler or an inflatable ball, and says to yell instructions to the person. A ring buoy or throw bag with a line lets you pull them toward you while you stay on land. Practice throwing on dry land before you need it, and keep the float where everyone can find it. See how to throw a ring buoy or throw bag.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab)

Start with where you are, then what happened. Give the exact address or landmark, the beach or pool name, and the nearest cross street. Answer every question the operator asks. In New York City, if you cannot safely call, you can text 911; the city's Text-to-911 guidance (opens in a new tab) says to text your full address, cross streets and borough, use complete words, answer all of the operator's questions, and let the operator end the chat. Always call if you can. See calling 911 near water.

Source: nyc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Book a CPR class that teaches rescue breaths, and set up your rescue spot. Put a phone, a reaching pole and something that floats by your pool or in your beach bag. Teach your kids the rule reach or throw, don't go and practice it on dry land. Write down your address and nearest cross street for any babysitter. The helps you write it all down, and the Red Cross (opens in a new tab) lists the steps of the chain of drowning survival.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), poolsafely.gov (opens in a new tab)