First aid for drowning

In the midst of the beach-swimming season, information is relevant on the provision of the first pre-hospital assistance for drowning, which every person must own in order to be ready to save those in trouble.

Stages of emergency treatment for drowning

The actions of the rescuer during drowning are divided into two stages:

1. In the water , the victim is taken to the shore.
2. On the shore - measures for resuscitation of the victim.

Noticing the sinking person, you should quickly reach the nearest place along the shore. To swim to the drowning is necessary from behind, since his convulsive attempts to swim represent a mortal danger for the rescuer-it is very difficult to get rid of the capture of the sinking person. If the person has already sunk to the bottom, you need to dive and swim to him along the bottom, take him by the hand, under the mouse or by the hair and, strongly pushing from the bottom, to float, working with his free hand and legs. On the surface of the head of the victim should be kept above the water face upward, swim to the shore. If in a panic a drowning man clings to you, immersing himself under the water, one should take a deep breath and dive deeper, so that he loses support and opens his hands.

After extraction from water it is necessary to determine the type of drowning by characteristic features:

1. True, or "blue" drowning - the face and neck of the affected blue-gray color, pinkish foamy liquid is allocated from the nose and mouth, the vessels of the neck are swollen. This kind of drowning occurs in those people who, before losing consciousness, fought for their lives. In this case, water has entered the respiratory tract, lungs and stomach.
2. Syncopal, or "pale" drowning - the skin is pale gray, without pronounced blueing, in very rare cases, a foam is observed. In this case, water did not penetrate into the lungs because of the reflex spasm of the glottis, which is more often observed when contacting very cold or chlorinated water. In most cases, there is also a reflex stop of the heart, a clinical death.

Medical assistance for drowning

At the true drowning of the person at once it is necessary to turn on a stomach so that the head has appeared below a level of a basin. Then, with your fingers, clean the contents of the oral cavity and press sharply on the root of the tongue to induce a vomitive reflex and stimulate breathing.

If the vomiting reflex is preserved, and the remains of food are seen in the pouring out of the mouth, this indicates that the person is alive. The proof of this is the appearance of a cough. Then, as carefully as possible, remove water from the stomach and lungs for 5-10 minutes, still pressing down on the base of the tongue in the face down position. At the same time, you can tap the victim on the back with the palm of your hand, and also intensively squeeze the chest several times during the inspiration.

If there was no gag reflex after exerting pressure on the tongue, there are no remnants of food in the outflowing water, no coughing, respiratory movements, then cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started immediately. For this, the victim should be placed on his back and proceed to an indirect heart massage and artificial respiration , which every 3-4 minutes should alternate with the removal of the contents of the mouth and nose, turning the person on the stomach.

With a "pale" drowning to artificial respiration and indirect heart massage, one should proceed immediately after establishing absence of pulse and breathing, without losing time to remove water.

Massage of the heart

For carrying out an indirect massage of the heart, it is necessary to release the breast of the victim from clothing. One hand should be placed on the lower third of the sternum, perpendicular to its surface, and the other on top of the first hand Parallel to the breast surface. Rhythmic tremors (frequency 60 - 70 times per minute) should be sharply pressed on the chest. About 4 - 5 pressure should alternate with one breath ("mouth to mouth," holding the victim's nose, or "mouth to nose", holding his mouth). Actions do not stop until the appearance of palpitation and breathing (up to 30 - 40 minutes).

Further, the victim needs hospitalization and medical assistance for drowning, since even if after the resuscitation the rescued person feels well, there is a risk of complications (repeated cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema , kidney failure, etc.).