COVID-19 is affecting all aspects of society across the globe, including SAR organisations and others who have to deal with drowning victims. 

Currently, if a non-immunised person starts mouth-to-mouth ventilation on a drowned casualty, the chances of the rescuer becoming infected with COVID-19 are very high and the risk of that rescuer subsequently becoming severely ill - or even dying – are unknown. 

To help rescuers understand and mitigate those risks, representatives of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF),  the International Lifesaving Federation’s Medical Commission (ILS-MC) and the International Drowning Researchers’ Alliance (IDRA) have formed a joint working group to advise rescuers on how to deal with this dramatic situation during the current COVID-19 pandemic and afterwards.

The aim of the working group is to publish their recommendations in April 2020. 

Anyone wishing to know more about the Working Group, or to become involved, should contact the Chair of the Working Group, Catarina Queiroga ([email protected]).