Experts state that drowning in water is one of the most common causes of drowning, especially seen in summer months, among children, young individuals, those who cannot swim, and in water accidents such as shallow-water diving.
Emphasizing the importance of first aid applications in water drownings, Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, Head of the First and Emergency Aid Program, said, “After giving 2 rescue breaths to drowning victims, intervention cycles with 30 chest compressions should be continued. If you are alone with the victim or if help has not been called until then, after 5 rounds of 2 rescue breaths and 30 chest compressions, which should be completed within 2 minutes, quickly call 112 and ask for help.”
Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, Head of the First and Emergency Aid Program at Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services, drew attention to the importance of first aid in drowning cases.
Drownings require emergency intervention
Noting that drowning is a condition where sufficient oxygen cannot be taken in and requires emergency intervention, Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı said, “Due to reasons such as fluid filling the windpipe, foreign objects entering the windpipe, the tongue falling back due to loss of consciousness, hanging, lung damage, gas poisoning, and drowning in water, the respiratory tract cannot perform the breathing process, insufficient oxygen reaches the tissues, and tissue damage occurs. Therefore, when a drowned person is reached, first responders must intervene urgently.”
Most common drownings occur in water
“Drowning in water is one of the most common causes of drowning. It can be seen especially in summer months, among children, young individuals, those who cannot swim, and in water accidents such as shallow-water diving,” said Bağlı, adding that during drowning, a small amount of water enters the lungs due to the constriction of the windpipe opening. Therefore, even if 20-30 minutes have passed, especially in cold weather, artificial respiration and chest compressions should be started on the patient or injured person removed from the water in drowning incidents.
How should a drowning person be removed from the water?
Stating that the most important stage in water drownings is removing the victim from the water, Bağlı said, “It is necessary to be very careful when removing conscious individuals from the water. The rescuer should first extend any available material (such as a long towel, clothing, rope, sturdy cord, piece of wood, lifebuoy, life vest) to a conscious person struggling in the water and ask them to hold onto it. If this cannot be done, an attempt should be made to reach the drowning person by boat or canoe. Even when entering the water with a boat or canoe, it is extremely important for the rescuer to wear a life vest for personal safety. If help cannot be provided in this way, help must be called.”
Except for professional swimmers, one should not jump into the water to rescue
Warning, “If the first responder is not a professional swimmer, they should not jump into the water to perform a rescue. Only professional swimmers should do this,” Bağlı continued, “As a result of jumping into the water, in addition to the risk of drowning, general body trauma or spinal fractures should also be considered. Therefore, the person's neck should not be moved excessively. In water drownings, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose resuscitation is possible in the water, and this application should be started while still in the water. This application may not be possible in deep waters, so the patient or injured person must be quickly pulled towards shallow water.”
2 rescue breaths, 30 chest compressions
Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, also pointing to first aid applications in water drownings, provided information: “The vital functions of the victim pulled out of the water are assessed. If they are unconscious and breathing has stopped, basic life support should be started quickly. Unlike standard basic life support which begins with chest compressions, for water drowning victims, intervention cycles should continue with 30 chest compressions after 2 rescue breaths are given. If you are alone with the victim or if help has not been called until then, after 5 rounds of 2 rescue breaths and 30 chest compressions, which should be completed within 2 minutes, quickly call 112 and ask for help. Basic life support application continues until health workers arrive at the scene or until signs of life (breathing, movement, making sounds, etc.) are observed in the victim.”
In partial obstruction, the patient should be encouraged to cough
Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, also stating that airway obstructions can occur due to foreign objects entering the windpipe, said, “We can evaluate obstructions in two groups: partial obstruction and complete obstruction. In partial obstruction, the entire airway is not blocked; there is still some air passage. It is a situation where the person can breathe, albeit slightly, tries to speak, albeit in a low voice, and has a cough reflex. In these situations, the patient should be encouraged to cough and is expected to remove the obstructing foreign object. If the foreign object does not come out and the partial obstruction turns into a complete obstruction, then the first responder needs to intervene.”
Heimlich maneuver saves lives!
Noting that complete obstruction is a condition where air passage is blocked due to the complete obstruction of the airway, Bağlı concluded, “In this situation, the person cannot breathe, brings their hand to their neck as if in pain, cannot speak, and their color gradually turns blue. If complete airway obstruction is not immediately intervened, consciousness is lost within a few minutes. The Heimlich maneuver is applied to open an airway suddenly and completely obstructed by a foreign object in the windpipe.”
