CPR Basics Every Swim Parent Should Know

Knowing what to do in the seconds after a child is pulled from the water is one of the most valuable things a parent can carry. This guide is an awareness overview of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Australian DRSABCD action plan. It is not a substitute for hands-on training. CPR is a physical skill you have to learn and practise under a qualified instructor, so please read the rest of this as one big nudge: enrol in an accredited first-aid and CPR course. Reading about CPR builds familiarity. Only practice builds the confidence and muscle memory you would actually rely on.

Why training matters more than reading

In a real emergency, adrenaline takes over and there is no time to recall the order of steps from an article. People who have physically practised compressions and rescue breaths on a manikin, guided by an instructor, act faster and more effectively. Guidelines are also reviewed and updated over time, so a current accredited course ensures you are learning what is recommended now, not what was taught years ago.

For these reasons, the single most useful action you can take after reading this is to book an accredited first-aid or CPR course, ideally one that covers infant and child resuscitation, and to refresh it regularly. Many parents do this every year or two so the skills stay sharp. Always follow current Australian Resuscitation Council guidance and, in any real emergency, the instructions given to you by the triple-zero (000) operator.

The DRSABCD action plan

Australian first-aid training organises the response to an unconscious or unresponsive person around the letters DRSABCD. The plan gives you a clear order to work through under pressure.

• D for Danger. Check that the area is safe for you, any bystanders and the patient before you approach. You cannot help anyone if you become a second casualty.
• R for Response. Check for a response by talking to the person and gently squeezing their shoulders. Ask them to open their eyes or squeeze your hand.
• S for Send for help. If there is no response, call triple zero (000) immediately, or send someone else to call while you continue. Put the phone on speaker so the operator can guide you.
• A for Airway. Open and check the airway, clearing it if needed.
• B for Breathing. Check whether the person is breathing normally. If they are unresponsive but breathing normally, roll them onto their side into the recovery position so the airway stays clear, and stay with them until help arrives. If they are not breathing normally, go to C.
• C for CPR. If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR. ANZCOR specifies 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, repeated continuously, and the same ratio applies to adults, children and infants.
• D for Defibrillation. Attach an automated external defibrillator (AED) as soon as one is available and follow its spoken prompts. Dry the person's chest before applying the pads, and never delay or pause CPR while waiting for an AED to arrive.

This list is a memory aid, not a training manual. The depth, hand position, rate of compressions and breathing technique differ between adults, children and infants, and getting them right is exactly what a course teaches you to do.

Compressions and breaths

ANZCOR specifies 30 compressions to 2 breaths, for adults, children and infants alike. Keep that cycle going without long pauses until help arrives, the person recovers, or an AED takes over. Compressions should be firm and at a steady rhythm; rescue breaths should be gentle and just enough to see the chest rise, particularly for small children and babies, where too much force can cause harm.

The technique genuinely changes with the size of the patient. For an infant, for example, the approach to compressions and breaths is different from an older child or adult. This is precisely why an article cannot make you competent and a practical course can. If you are ever unsure during an emergency, the 000 operator can talk you through compressions step by step, so make that call early and listen carefully.

Special considerations after a drowning

Water-related emergencies have their own characteristics, and a first-aid course aimed at swim families will cover them. The key point for awareness is simple: if a child who has been in the water is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin the DRSABCD plan straight away and call 000.

Two things differ in drowning. First, rescue breaths matter: compression-only CPR is strongly discouraged in a drowned person, because the underlying problem is a lack of oxygen, so give the breaths as well as the compressions. Second, get them out safely: rescue from land or a boat is safest, throw a rope or something that floats, and only enter the water with some form of flotation. If entering is not safe, wait for rescue services to arrive. Vomiting and regurgitation are common while a drowned person is being resuscitated, so if the airway becomes obstructed, roll them onto their side to let it drain, then roll them back and carry on.

Do not delay starting because you are unsure; early action gives the best chance of recovery. Even after a child appears to recover, they should always be assessed by medical professionals, because problems can develop later.

Build a prepared household

CPR knowledge is one part of a safer home. Combine it with the physical safeguards and supervision habits covered in our water safety tips for families, so that prevention and response work together. Active adult supervision, staying within arm's reach of young children near water, remains the best protection of all, because the best emergency is the one that never happens.

Teaching children to swim is another long-term layer. Confident, capable swimmers are less likely to get into trouble in the first place. When you are ready to enrol, you can compare programs in our directory of swim schools or search the Australian swim school directory for lessons close to home. Some swim schools and community centres also host first-aid and CPR courses, so it is worth asking when you sign up.

Your next step

If you take one thing from this guide, let it be this: book an accredited first-aid and CPR course that includes infant and child resuscitation, keep your certification current, and make sure other carers in your household do the same. Pair that training with vigilant supervision and you will be as ready as a parent can be.

Frequently asked questions

What does DRSABCD stand for?

DRSABCD is the Australian basic life support action plan: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, and Defibrillation. It gives you a clear order to follow when someone is unresponsive. The letters are a memory aid, and an accredited first-aid course teaches you how to perform each step correctly.

What is the CPR compression-to-breath ratio?

ANZCOR specifies 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths, repeated continuously until help arrives or the person recovers, and the same ratio applies to adults, children and infants. Hand position and compression depth differ between adults, children and infants, but the ratio does not, so learn and practise it in an accredited course and follow current Australian Resuscitation Council guidance.

Can I learn CPR properly just by reading about it?

No. CPR is a physical skill that requires hands-on practice on a manikin with a qualified instructor to build the confidence and muscle memory you would need in a real emergency. Use this guide for awareness only, then book an accredited first-aid and CPR course and refresh it regularly.

What should I do first if I find a child unresponsive after being in the water?

Check for danger, then check for a response, and if there is none call triple zero (000) immediately, putting the phone on speaker. Begin the DRSABCD plan and follow the operator's instructions. If they are unresponsive but breathing normally, roll them onto their side. If they are not breathing normally, start CPR with compressions and breaths: compression-only CPR is strongly discouraged after drowning. Even if the child recovers, they should always be assessed by medical professionals.