How to respond and attend to a drowning victim

Not all heroes wear a cape and not everyone who can save a person from drowning needs to look like someone from "Baywatch."

It's best to alert a rescue team to the drowning and have someone trained to perform CPR respond to the emergency. However, being equipped with basic CPR knowledge may mean the difference between life and death.

This summer, "Alisto" is bestowing the public real super powers. Here are a few things you should know before going to the beach.

1. When rescuing someone drowning in the water, make sure that their neck is not dangling down. Support the head and keep the airway clear.

Experts say that the victim will be struggling for 30 to 60 seconds and will then submerge. The rescue must be done within that minute. 

2. Perform age-appropriate CPR.

After carrying the victim out of the water, lay her or him down on a flat surface and immediately do one rescue breath.

Follow this up with chest compression using only two fingers at 3 cm depth for small children. For slightly older children below the age of 8, use one hand for the compressions. For teenagers and adults, the two-handed compressions must be 5 cm deep. 

Do a cycle of 30 compressions, 2 breaths. 

3. Remember: Do rescue breathing first before performing chest compression.

4. Make sure that your hands are placed at the center of the chest when performing the compressions.

5. Perform CPR for up to 30 minutes and then lay the person on her or his side once she or he comes to.

6. Bring the person to the hospital after the incident. 

Along with your sunscreen and cool sunnies, don't forget to pack alertness. Be alisto! — Aya Tantiangco, GMA News