Holding a drowning child upside down on the shoulder and running is one of the most serious first-aid mistakes, wasting the golden time needed to save the victim.

When giving first aid to children who nearly drowned, many people tend to hold the child upside down on their shoulder and run, hoping that water in the stomach will flow out. However, this is a dangerous mistake, according to Ms. Dương Khánh Vân, a technical officer at the World Health Organization (WHO), as reported by VnExpress.

Drowning is one of the top 10 causes of death among children aged 5–14. Globally, more than 600 people die from drowning every day. In Vietnam, nearly 2,000 children die annually from drowning. At the National Children’s Hospital alone, around 100 drowning cases are admitted each year, with many resulting in death or irreversible brain damage.

Summer holidays are a peak time for drowning accidents, as children spend more time near water. The risk is always present, everywhere and at any time.

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Why the “upside-down” method is wrong

When a child drowns, the first aid given is critical. The main cause of death in drowning is brain damage due to lack of oxygen. The brain can only survive 4–5 minutes without oxygen; beyond that, damage is often irreversible, leading to death or severe neurological complications.

If a child is unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse, the first and immediate step must be cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Many children don’t die immediately after drowning but lose their chance of survival because of incorrect first aid. The mistaken belief of turning a child upside down and running around wastes critical time and may even cause more harm.

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Correct emergency response

According to Dr. Phạm Ngọc Toàn (Emergency Department, National Children’s Hospital), when someone drowns, chokes, or suffers a sudden accident leading to respiratory or cardiac arrest, first aid is the decisive factor for survival. The right steps are:

• Open the airway.

• Perform rescue breaths and chest compressions.

• Continue until the heart starts beating again or medical staff arrive.

Carrying the victim on your shoulder and trying to drain water wastes precious minutes. When someone is submerged, water enters the airway, causing oxygen deprivation, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Thus, resuscitation is the only action that can save their life.

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Key principle for bystanders

When you see someone drowning, remember: do not become the next victim. If you cannot swim, call for help immediately instead of jumping in yourself.

Once the victim is brought ashore:

• Check responsiveness by calling and shaking them.

• If they respond, place them in the recovery position (lying on their side).

• If they do not respond, call for help, quickly open the airway, and begin CPR.