First aid is vital in cases of drowning!

Stating that drowning in water is one of the most common causes of drowning, experts say that it can be seen in children, young individuals, non-swimmers and water accidents such as jumping into shallow water, especially in summer.

Pointing out the importance of first aid practices in drowning, First and Emergency Aid Program Head Instructor Ayşe Bağlı stated that "After 2 artificial respirations are given to the accident victims who drown in water, the intervention cycles should be continued with 30 heart massages. If you are alone with the victim or if there has been no call for help until that moment, 112 is called immediately and help is requested after 5 rounds, 2 artificial respiration, 30 heart massage cycles to be completed within 2 minutes."

Noting that drowning is a condition in which not enough oxygen is taken and requires urgent intervention. Instructor Ayşe Bağlı said that "Insufficient oxygen goes to the tissues and deterioration occurs in the tissues due to the inability of the respiratory tract to perform the respiratory process due to reasons such as fluid filling into the trachea, foreign body leakage into the trachea, slipping of the tongue due to loss of consciousness, hanging, damage to the lungs, poisoning with gas and drowning in water. For this reason, if the drowning person is reached, first aider should intervene urgently."

The most common drownings happen in water

Staying that "Drowning is one of the most common causes of drowning. It can be seen especially in the summer months, in children, young individuals, non-swimmers and in water accidents such as jumping into shallow water,” Bağlı said that a small amount of water enters the lungs due to the contraction of the tracheal entrance during drowning: therefore, the patient or injured person who is taken out of the water in drowning should be started with artificial respiration and heart massage, even if 20-30 minutes pass, especially in cold weather.

How should it be to pull a drowning person out of the water?

Stating that the most important step in drowning is to remove the victim from the water, Bağlı expressed that "It is necessary to be very careful in removing the victim from the water, especially in those who are conscious. The first aider should first ask the person who is conscious and struggling in the water to hold on to any material that they can use (such as a long towel, clothes, rope, strong rope, piece of wood, life buoy, life jacket). If they cannot do these, they try to go to the drowning person with a boat. Even when entering the water by boat, it is extremely important for life safety that the rescuer has a life jacket on them. If help cannot be provided in this way, help must be called."

Except for professional swimmers, they should not jump into the water and make rescues

Expressing that "If the first aider is not a professional swimmer, they should not jump into the water and make a rescue. Only professional swimmers should do this," and Bağlı added that "As a result of jumping into the water, the risk of drowning, as well as general body trauma or spinal fractures should be considered. For this reason, the person's neck should not be moved too much. In drowning, it is possible to do mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breathing in water, and this practice should be started while in water. This practice may not be possible in deep waters, so the patient or injured must be quickly pulled into shallow water."

Two artificial respiration 30 heart massages

Pointing out the first aid practices in drowning, Instructor Ayşe Bağlı stated that "The life functions of the victim who is taken out of the water are evaluated. If one is unconscious and has stopped breathing, basic life support is started quickly. Unlike the standard basic life support application that starts with heart massage, the intervention cycles should be continued with 30 heart massages after two artificial respirations are given to the drowning accident victims. If you are alone with the victim or if there has been no call for help so far, after 5 rounds, 2 artificial respiration, 30 heart massage cycles, which will be completed within 2 minutes, 112 is quickly called and help is requested. Basic life support is continued until health workers arrive at the scene or until the victim shows signs of life (breathing, moving, making noises, etc.)."

In partial obstruction, the patient should be encouraged to cough

Stating that airway obstructions may occur as a result of a foreign body entering the trachea, Instructor Ayşe Bağlı said that "We can evaluate blockages in two groups as partial occlusion and complete occlusion. In partial obstruction, the entire airway is not blocked, there is still some air passage. It is a condition in which the person can breathe a little, tries to speak, albeit in a low voice, and has a cough reflex. In these cases, the patient should be encouraged to cough and wait for the obstructing foreign body to be removed. If the foreign body does not come out, if the partial obstruction turns into a complete obstruction, then the first aider should intervene."

The Heimlich maneuver saves lives!

Noting that complete obstruction is a condition in which air passage is prevented as a result of complete obstruction of the airway, Bağlı stated that "In this case, the person cannot breathe, puts their hand to their neck as if they is in pain, cannot speak, and their color gradually bruises. If complete airway obstruction is not intervened immediately, consciousness goes away within a few minutes. The Heimlich maneuver is applied to open the airway, which is suddenly completely blocked as a result of a foreign body entering the trachea."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)