Drowning incidents
Going in yourself to save a drowning person is how two people drown.
When you see someone in the water
- Call 119 immediately — at sea, 122 (coast guard) also works.
- Shout for help from those around you.
- Find something to throw — a life ring, plastic bottles, a cool box, a rope, a long pole.
- Throw it, shouting "grab this!"
- Do not go in yourself. Without training you become a second casualty.
- Once rescued, check consciousness and breathing — if absent, start CPR. See cpr.
After rescue
- Even if conscious, they must go to hospital. Inhaled water can cause lung problems later.
- Remove wet clothes and keep them warm. See hypothermia.
- Lay them on their side so that vomited water doesn't block the airway.
Prevention
- No swimming after drinking — a major cause of drownings.
- Don't swim in prohibited areas — they are prohibited for a reason.
- Never take your eyes off children — they go under silently.
- Wear a life jacket — in valleys, at sea, on boats.
- Don't swim alone.
- Rivers and valleys rise rapidly after rain. See monsoon-typhoon.
Where to go
- 119 rescue and ambulance
- 122 coast guard (at sea)
- 1345 interpretation
- e-gen www.e-gen.or.kr
Questions people ask
I'm a strong swimmer — why shouldn't I go in? A drowning person grabs the rescuer and drags them down. Without training it is extremely dangerous. Throw, reach, and call.
My child swallowed water but seems fine. Delayed symptoms are possible. With coughing, lethargy or abnormal breathing, be seen immediately.
Someone fell into icy water. Hypothermia sets in fast. After rescue, keeping them warm is the priority. See hypothermia.
What if a rip current pulls me out to sea? Swim parallel to the shore to escape the current, then head in. Fighting it head-on exhausts you.
Take care
"Hospital even if they seem fine" is the rule for drowning. Water in the lungs can cause trouble hours later. Children, alcohol and late-night swimming account for most incidents.
Related
cpr · first-aid-basics · hypothermia · monsoon-typhoon · call-119
Source
National Fire Agency www.nfa.go.kr / As of 2026-08