Steps to Take:

1. Ensure Safety:

   • Assess the Situation: Quickly look around to identify any immediate dangers to yourself or others. These might include strong currents, deep water, or hazardous objects in the water.

   • Call for Help: Shout for assistance to alert nearby people. Have someone call 999 immediately and inform them of the drowning child and your location.

   • Do Not Enter Water Without Preparation: Ensure you have a floatation device or something that can be thrown to the child, like a lifebuoy or a long stick, to avoid putting yourself at risk of drowning.

2. Rescue with Minimal Risk:

   • Reach or Throw, Don’t Go: If the child is close enough, lie down and reach out with a long object, such as a branch, a towel, or a lifeguard pole, to pull the child to safety. If not, throw a floatation device to the child and instruct them to grab it.

   • Assess Your Abilities: If you are a strong swimmer and the situation appears safe, consider swimming out with a floatation device. Always keep the device between you and the child to prevent the child from pulling you under in their panic.

3. Remove the Child from the Water:

   • Carefully Bring to Shore: If you reach the child, support their head and neck and swim back to shore using a sidestroke or backstroke, keeping their airway above water.

   • Enlist Help: If others are available, form a human chain to pass the child back to shore safely.

important: 

assess the situation first, if you feel it is too dangerous to enter the water wait for help to arrive. do not put yourself in danger