All emergency cards

Water safety: pools, beaches and the sea

If anyone is in danger, call your local emergency number first. In the UAE:

Not in the UAE? Call your local emergency number. All UAE numbers by emirate

What to do now

• Stay within arm's reach of young children and new swimmers.^{Red Cross}
• Put your phone away while children swim. Drowning can happen within minutes.^{Abu Dhabi Police}
• Keep watching closely. Drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent.^CDC
• On lifeguarded beaches, swim only inside the marked safe zone, such as between red and yellow flags.^RNLI
• Caught in a rip current? Do not fight it. Swim parallel to the shore, then head in.^RNLI
• If you struggle, lean back and float until your breathing calms, then call for help.^RoSPA
• If someone struggles, reach with a pole or throw a rope tied to a float. Do not swim out untrained.^MedlinePlus
• In the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance, 999 for police or 996 for the coastguard.^{UAE Government portal}

Full guide and sources

UAE numbers source: u.ae. Steps summarised from official sources listed on the full guide.