Immediate action on a boat
Drowning
Drowning is a breathing emergency. Do not enter the water unless you are trained and equipped. Once the person is out, breathing comes first.
If you are not trained in water rescue, do not enter the water. Reach with a line, a boat hook, or a lifebuoy. A rescuer who drowns cannot help.
The 2021 European drowning section also says the rescuer must weigh the risk to themselves, and that how long the person was under the water is the strongest predictor of outcome.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK, First Aid Guidelines (2025) European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Cardiac arrest in special circumstances (drowning)
If you are trained and it is safe, with a flotation aid, you can give five rescue breaths in the water. Get the person onto land or onto the boat as soon as you can.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK, First Aid Guidelines (2025)
Holding the neck still in the water must not delay getting the person out when they need resuscitation.
Source: European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025: Special Circumstances in Resuscitation
On the boat or on land, if they are unresponsive and not breathing, give five rescue breaths first, then start standard CPR.
The 2021 European drowning section used the same five initial breaths, then 30 compressions to 2 breaths, and said a trained rescuer might ventilate, or ventilate and compress, on a boat.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK, First Aid Guidelines (2025) European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Cardiac arrest in special circumstances (drowning)
If an AED is available, dry the chest quickly, then follow the AED prompts.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK, First Aid Guidelines (2025)
Continue CPR until the person shows signs of life or emergency help takes over. Drowning care includes preventing hypothermia.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK, First Aid Guidelines (2025)
Get certified
A certificate used for commercial work or offshore racing comes from hands-on training with a recognised provider, for example an RYA First Aid course or STCW Elementary First Aid. This online course does not award that certificate, and it does not name or recommend a training centre.
Check your understanding
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1. You cannot swim a rescue and you have no rescue training. A person is in the water. What should you do?
2. The person is on the cockpit sole, unresponsive and not breathing. What is the first resuscitation step for drowning?
3. The chest is wet and you have an AED. What do you do?
4. Should spinal immobilisation in the water delay getting a lifeless person out?