Slovakia warns that drownings are often silent and quick

Experts from the Slovak Red Cross and the rescue services stress that drowning rarely looks like the dramatized scenes in movies. A person who is drowning typically remains silent, holds their head low and can disappear beneath the surface in 20 to 60 seconds. Because the struggle is often unnoticed, bystanders are urged to act immediately, calling emergency number 155 (or 112) before attempting a rescue.

The authorities advise rescuers to provide aid from the shore using a stick, rope, paddle, flotation device or any reachable object, and to avoid entering the water unless trained. After pulling the person out, they should be placed on their side, monitored for breathing and consciousness, and CPR performed only by qualified individuals. The guidance follows a recent spike in water‑related deaths – six drownings were recorded over two days in June in the Bratislava region – and highlights that roughly 300,000 people drown worldwide each year, making drowning the third leading cause of death for children aged five to fourteen.

Parents and swimmers are reminded to keep children under constant supervision, avoid swimming in unmanned or unfamiliar waters, and to learn basic water‑safety rules and first‑aid measures.