Reviving Someone Who Has Drowned or Swallowed Water

What is drowning?

Drowning is when someone has difficulty breathing because their nose and mouth are submerged in a liquid. When someone’s drowning, it may not always look like the distressed call for help that most people expect from watching TV. They may go unnoticed, even if friends or family are nearby.

Learn how to properly revive a drowning victim.

First Things:
If you suspect someone is drowning, notify a lifeguard and call for help. Do not waste any time.

Rescue is only half the job. Reviving someone who has drowned or swallowed water is the other half, and it’s equally important when it comes to saving a life.

If you’ve pulled a drowning person back to dry land, the next step to reviving them is performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. As always, call for help before beginning these important first aid emergency measures.

You should implement universal safety guidelines whenever possible. If you have an airway bag in your first aid kit, use it! It will provide safety during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, keeping HIV and other infections at bay.

Steps for Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation
Turn the drowning person’s head to the side, allowing any water to drain from his or her mouth and nose. Turn the head back to the center.
Begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on land, if possible, or in the water if the injured person needs immediate life-and-death measures.
Strongly breathe four times into the mouth of the injured person as you pinch his or her nose. This helps air get past any water that is clogging the breathing passageways and the lungs.
After four strong breaths, put your ear near the mouth and watch the chest for any breathing movement.
Check the pulse for signs of life.
Repeat the cycle.

What to Worry About Next:
You’re not out of the water once the drowning victim starts to breathe and choke. In fact, the first 48 hours after a drowning incident can be the most dangerous. Complications resulting from water exposure—pneumonia, infection, heart failure—can all occur during this time. Therefore, you should always take a drowning victim to the hospital.

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At HVG Marine, we have top experts who collaborate with the best and brightest minds in the marine industry, including rescue equipment. We can help you to build your business. Contact us as below:

3rd Floor, No. 38, Ven Ho Ha Dinh Street, Ha Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 24 667 33 777 / +84 24 667 39 777
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Mail: [email protected]