In the movies, a drowning person splashes, shouts and waves. In real life, drowning is quiet, fast and easy to miss. A person who is drowning cannot call for help — every effort goes into keeping the mouth above the water. The head tilts back, the body bobs low, and it can be over in under a minute. Knowing what drowning really looks like, and what to do about it, is what saves lives.
A drowning person rarely waves or calls out. Look for these signs:
If you see these signs, do not wait for a scream. Every second counts.
Rule one: your own safety comes first. A drowning person does not need a hero swimmer — they need someone who acts calmly and in the right order.
Call 112 immediately and give a clear location. Then reach the person with an object — a pole, a rope, a life ring, a float — while you stay on solid ground or in the boat. If you are not trained in water rescue, do not swim out to them. Most double-drowning accidents happen exactly that way.
Once the person is out of the water, check for breathing. If they are not breathing, start CPR right away — hard, fast chest compressions in the centre of the chest — and keep going until help arrives. If they are breathing, place them on their side in the recovery position, keep them warm, and wait for the ambulance.
The second victim. An untrained swimmer goes in after someone who is drowning and drowns too. Reach with an object, not with your body.
Removing the life jacket in the water. A life jacket keeps a person afloat — it does not trap them. Leave it on until they are safely out of the water.
Wasting time. Hesitating, or waiting for someone “more responsible” to take charge, burns the minutes that matter. Call 112 and start acting.
The best investment before the sea season is a certified first aid and CPR course. Training turns freezing into acting.
And before you swim or go out on a boat, check the sea conditions first — the B7R app shows the sea state and tide times for Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports so you can pick a safe window, and it has an SOS button for emergencies if something goes wrong on the water.
It also helps to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, and to keep simple rescue tools on the boat or the beach: a rope, a ring buoy, and life jackets for the children. Preparedness takes minutes and saves lives. Download the B7R app free: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.q8dm.b7r