Water Safety in WA Summers: Drowning First Aid, Rip Currents, and What to Do in the First Minutes

Western Australia in summer is built for the outdoors: beaches, backyard pools, rivers, boating, snorkelling, fishing and long weekends down south or up the coast. But the same season that delivers the best lifestyle also brings one of the most preventable emergencies we see every year—drowning and near-drowning incidents.

Drowning is fast, quiet, and can happen well before anyone realises there’s a problem—especially with children, crowded beaches, alcohol, or people overestimating their swim ability. Nationally, Australia recorded 357 drowning deaths in the most recent 12-month reporting period (National Drowning Report 2025), highlighting that drowning remains a persistent, high-impact risk.

This WA summer guide explains:

• How drowning emergencies unfold (and why speed matters)
• Rip current basics and how to survive one
• Step-by-step drowning first aid aligned with ANZCOR / Australian Resuscitation Council guidance
• What to do after a “minor” water incident (yes—still important)
• How to reduce risk at beaches, pools, rivers, and on boats
• Why refreshing your skills with First Aid Courses in Perth is one of the smartest summer prep moves you can make

Drowning in WA: Why Summer Is the High-Risk Season

Summer increases drowning risk because the exposure multiplies:

• More time in and around water (beach days, pool parties, camping trips)
• More visitors in unfamiliar environments (tourists, interstate travellers)
• Hot conditions + fatigue + dehydration (people tire faster)
• Alcohol and risk-taking (especially around rivers and beaches)
• School holidays (more children near water, more distractions)

Even strong swimmers can get caught out by changing surf conditions, rips, drop-offs, currents, submerged hazards, or sudden medical events in the water (e.g., seizures, cardiac issues). ANZCOR notes that not all water-related deaths are “just drowning”—sudden incapacitation in water can contribute too.

Rip Currents: The WA Beach Risk That Catches People by Surprise

A rip current is a moving channel of water flowing away from shore. It can be difficult to spot, and it can quickly exhaust even fit swimmers who try to fight it.

How to spot a rip

Surf Life Saving’s BeachSafe guidance highlights common rip signs such as:

• Deeper/darker water
• Fewer breaking waves
• Sandy-coloured water flowing out beyond the surf zone
• Debris/seaweed moving seaward
• Visible water movement

If you’re caught in a rip: what to do

BeachSafe advice focuses on staying calm, conserving energy, signalling for help, floating, and escaping by swimming parallel or toward breaking waves when possible.

Practical WA beach rule: If you’re not confident reading surf conditions, choose a patrolled beach and swim between the flags. (It’s not about being a “bad swimmer”—it’s about stacking the odds in your favour.)

The #1 Rule in Any Water Rescue: Don’t Become the Second Victim

One of the most common mistakes bystanders make is rushing in without flotation or a plan.

ANZCOR’s drowning guideline emphasises planning a safe rescue from land or craft when possible, and using buoyant objects (rope, life-ring, lifejacket, body board, etc.)—and only entering the water with some form of flotation. If it isn’t safe to enter, wait for rescue services.

A safer rescue approach (easy to remember)

Talk: Encourage the person to float, stay calm, move toward safety.

Reach: Use a pole, towel, stick—anything long.

Throw: Life ring, rope, body board, esky lid, inflatable—anything that floats.

Don’t go (unless trained, with flotation): Too many rescuers drown trying to “save” someone.

Drowning First Aid: What to Do as Soon as the Person Is Out of the Water

Once the person is safely removed from the water, your priorities are oxygen and circulation—fast.

Step 1: Call for help immediately

Call 000 (or have someone else call)

If at a patrolled beach or public pool: alert lifeguards/lifesavers immediately

Step 2: Follow DRSABCD (ANZCOR Basic Life Support)

ANZCOR Guideline 8 outlines the initial steps: DRS ABCD

1. Danger
2. Response
3. Send for help
4. Airway
5. Breathing
6. CPR
7. Defibrillation (AED)

Danger

Make sure the scene is safe (waves, rocks, traffic, electrical hazards, panicked swimmers).

Response

Check if they respond to voice and touch.

Send

Call 000 now if not already done.

Airway

Open airway. If there’s obvious obstruction (vomit, sand, debris), clear it promptly. ANZCOR notes that keeping the person on their back is generally preferred for assessment, except when the airway is clearly obstructed—then roll to clear the airway.

Breathing

Look for normal breathing. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing.

If They Are Not Breathing Normally: Start CPR With Rescue Breaths

This is where drowning differs from many other collapses: drowning is primarily an oxygen problem.

ANZCOR specifically recommends CPR with rescue breaths for drowning victims who are unresponsive and not breathing normally.

ANZCOR also notes that chest-compression-only CPR is strongly discouraged in drowning because it circulates oxygen-poor blood and does not address the immediate need for ventilation (breaths). It should only be used temporarily if breaths can’t be provided.

CPR basics to follow (adults, children, infants)

From ANZCOR Guideline 8:

Compression-to-ventilation ratio: 30:2 for all ages

Compression rate: approximately 100–120 per minute

Minimise interruptions

How to do it (in plain steps):

1. Lay the person flat on their back on a firm surface.
2. Start 30 compressions (hard and fast, centre of chest).
3. Give 2 rescue breaths (watch for chest rise).
4. Repeat cycles of 30:2 until help arrives, an AED takes over, or they start breathing normally.

Tip: If you have a pocket mask or barrier device, use it. If you don’t, do the best you can—early CPR saves lives.

What About an AED After Drowning?

If an AED is available, use it—just don’t delay CPR waiting for it.

ANZCOR advises:

• Don’t delay CPR while waiting for an AED
• Attach as soon as available and follow prompts
• Dry the chest if feasible before applying pads
• Defibrillation on a wet surface (e.g., poolside) is not dangerous

If They Are Breathing: Recovery Position and Close Monitoring

If the person is responsive and breathing normally:

• Keep them warm
• Monitor breathing and responsiveness
• Be ready to start CPR if they deteriorate
• Seek medical assessment (more on this below)

If unresponsive but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position (unless you need to keep rolling them to clear fluid/debris—airway always comes first).

“They Coughed and Seem Fine” — Do We Still Need Help?

Yes. This is a critical WA summer message.

ANZCOR states that even in minor drowning incidents where the person coughs and returns to normal breathing, health professional assessment and discharge advice are still required, and in some cases observation is needed. If treatment was required—even if they look fully recovered—send for an ambulance.

Why? Because people can deteriorate minutes or hours later due to ongoing lung injury. ANZCOR specifically warns rescued and resuscitated people require close monitoring and recommends sending an ambulance for all involved in a drowning incident, even if seemingly minor or they appear recovered.

Bottom line: If water went into the airway and the person had breathing trouble, persistent coughing, fatigue, chest tightness, vomiting, confusion, or “just doesn’t seem right” afterwards—get medical help.

WA Summer Scenarios: Quick First Aid Playbooks

1) Backyard pool incidents (kids)

Most common risk pattern: distraction + open gate + silent slip-in.

What to do:

• Remove child from water quickly and safely
• Call 000
• Start CPR with breaths if not breathing normally
• If breathing, keep warm, monitor, and still get assessed

Prevention checklist:

• Pool fence and gate self-close/self-latch
• “Arms reach” supervision for toddlers
• No “I thought you were watching them” moments—nominate one adult watcher

2) Beach emergencies (rips and fatigue)

What to do:

• Alert lifesavers/lifeguards or call 000
• Throw flotation before entering water
• Once out: DRSABCD, CPR with breaths, AED if available

Prevention checklist:

• Patrolled beaches + between the flags
• Check conditions before entering
• Don’t swim alone
• Avoid alcohol before swimming

3) Rivers, estuaries, and inland waterways

Common WA hazards:

• Hidden currents, slippery banks, snags, cold shock, low visibility
• Diving into unknown depth (spinal injury risk)

If spinal injury is suspected (dive, dumping surf, rocks, boat impact), ANZCOR notes spinal injury with drowning is rare but should be suspected in these mechanisms—however, speed of rescue and airway management take priority in an unresponsive person not breathing normally.

4) Boating and fishing (including rock fishing)

Common WA hazards:

• Sudden falls, waves, wind changes, fatigue
• No lifejackets or poorly fitting lifejackets
• Solo trips

Prevention checklist:

• Wear a lifejacket early (not “once it gets rough”)
• Tell someone your plan
• Check weather and swell
• Carry communication (phone in waterproof pouch / marine radio)

What NOT to Do in a Drowning Emergency (Common Mistakes)

ANZCOR’s drowning guideline is very direct on avoidable errors:

• Don’t try to “drain water” from lungs with abdominal pressure
• Don’t waste time trying to expel frothy fluid (it can re-accumulate)
• Avoid delays or interruptions to CPR

Also:

• Don’t stop CPR too early (continue until help takes over or they recover)
• Don’t “wait and see” after a minor incident—get assessed

Why First Aid Training Matters More Around Water

• Under pressure, most people don’t “rise to the occasion”—they fall back to their training.
• A drowning emergency is a worst-case scenario because it combines:
• High stress
• Time-critical oxygen loss
• Risk to rescuers
• Need for correct CPR (with breaths)
• Need to manage vomiting, airway debris, and ongoing monitoring

ANZCOR’s CPR guideline highlights that early high-quality CPR saves lives and recommends bystander CPR be actively encouraged.

And for drowning specifically, ANZCOR emphasises rescue and resuscitation at the scene offers the best chance of survival.

That’s why doing a CPR Course in Perth or refreshing your skills through First Aid Courses in Perth isn’t just a workplace compliance task—it’s a summer safety investment for your family, friends, clients, and community.

Summer-Ready First Aid Courses in Perth (WA)

At First Aid Certified, our training is designed to prepare you for the scenarios Perth and WA actually face in summer—beaches, pools, outdoor sport, community events, and family holidays.

In our nationally recognised courses you’ll practise:

• DRSABCD under pressure
• CPR with rescue breaths (including drowning scenarios)
• AED use
• Recovery position and airway management
• Managing vomiting, debris, and post-resuscitation monitoring
• When to call 000 and how to hand over to paramedics

If you’ve been meaning to book a refresher, summer is the time.