First Aid - Drowning

Drowning will be defined as death resulting from suffocation, especially from submersion in water. Whenever there is water people can drown. Mostly drowning results from boat accidents, from swimming or playing in or near water or from falling of a dock into the water. The most frequent cases of drowning occurs in home; small children whose mothers leave them alone in water tub.

Guidelines for Personal Water Safety

1. Learn to swim well enough to survive in an emergency.
2. Never swim alone and swim only with a buddy who has the ability to help when necessary.
3. Swim only in supervised areas. Children should be supervised at all times.
4. Know your limitations and do not overestimate your ability.
5. Stay out of water when over heated and immediately after eating.
6. Stay out of water during electrical storms.
7. Dive only into known waters of sufficient depth.
8. Do not substitute inflated tubes, air mattresses or other artificial supports for swimming ability.
9. Always swim a safe distance away from diving boards and platforms.
10. Avoid long periods of immersion and overexposure to the sun.
11. Call for help only when you really need it.
12. Learn to swim well enough to survive in an emergency.
13. Never swim alone and swim only with a buddy who has the ability to help when necessary.
14. Swim only in supervised areas. Children should be supervised at all times.
15. Know your limitations and do not overestimate your ability.
16. Stay out of water when over heated and immediately after eating.
17. Stay out of water during electrical storms.
18. Dive only into known waters of sufficient depth.
19. Do not substitute inflated tubes, air mattresses or other artificial supports for swimming ability.
20. Always swim a safe distance away from diving boards and platforms.
21. Avoid long periods of immersion and overexposure to the sun.
22. Call for help only when you really need it.

In addition to these guidelines it is always better to know how to administer artificial respiration and how to make a reaching rescue.

CAUSE of immediate death is lack of oxygen, (asphyxiation) either through the inhalation of large volumes of water into the lungs or via laryngospasm (muscle spasms of the throat and airway). In this situation, the victim suffocates with "dry lungs". These "dry drowning" account for approximately 10% of all drowning.

Death from drowning can occur later (within 24 hours after injury) as a complication of drowning, known as POST IMMERSION SYNDROME. This refers to a delayed injury to the lungs that leads to an increase in fluid within the lung tissue. Due to these delayed effects, near drowning victims MUST be admitted to the hospital for close observation and treatment.

Methods to Rescue a Drowning or Swimming victim in Trouble

1. Extend an oar to the victim while lying on any stationary object that gives you safety.
2. Through clothes to the victim as a means to bridge the gap.
3. If no clothes or objects of extension are available an arm or leg plus a tight grip, may save a life.
4. A swimming rescue should be used only if no other means of rescue is possible and that no one should attempt it if has had no training for it.

Image Courtesy: American National Red Cross

First Aid

• If the victim is not breathing, give artificial respiration immediately (See Artificial Respiration).
• Attempts to drain water from the victim are of doubtful value. The prone position (referring to the position of the body when lying face downward) is superior to the supine position (lying flat on the back) with respect to draining of water from the lungs (See Figures Below).

Step 1.	Step 2.
Step 3.	Step 4.

• Artificial respiration should be continued as long as the heart is beating no matter how faintly, till the patient is shifted to a hospital.

Since fresh water is hypotonic and and hypertonic, the patho-physiology of drowning is altogether different and treatment varies accordingly.

Homoeopathic Treatment

Asphyxia: Ant Tart 1M, Carbo Veg 200C,1M, and Lachesis 30C

Updated on: 01 Feb 2010