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First aid for drowning a person. Drowning, first aid for a drowning person

  • Rescue of a man on the water
  • When wet drowning
  • Video
A life-threatening condition, which is characterized by the onset of asphyxia when fluid enters the lungs, followed by swelling, is called drowning. In the absence of timely resuscitation, a person can die suddenly from acute respiratory failure. This should not be allowed, so it is useful for everyone to remember what first-aid actions on the part of the rescuer include emergency assistance for drowning. Act immediately.

What is first aid for drowning

Before proceeding with resuscitation, it is important to be aware of what processes occur in the body during drowning. If fresh water enters the lungs in large quantities, the cyclic contraction of the heart ventricles is disturbed, extensive edema develops, and the function of the systemic circulation stops. When salt water enters the body, the blood thickens pathologically, which leads to stretching and rupture of the alveoli, pulmonary edema, impaired gas exchange and subsequent myocardial rupture with a fatal outcome for the patient.

In both cases, in the absence of first aid, the victim may die. This cannot be allowed. First aid for drowning provides for a special set of resuscitation measures aimed at the forced discharge of water in order to maintain the functionality of internal organs and systems. Assistance to a drowning person is important to provide no later than 6 minutes from the moment of loss of consciousness. Otherwise, extensive cerebral edema develops, and the victim dies. Due to the observance of the algorithm of actions, the statistics of drowned people reduced the indicators.

First aid rules for drowning

The first step is to pull the victim ashore, after which first aid for drowning should follow. It is important to know the basic and non-false rules that will help save a person's life:

  1. The first step is to clearly determine the pulse and the presence of signs of breathing in the victim.
  2. Be sure to call an ambulance, and before arrival, take all the necessary measures to maintain the vital signs of the body.
  3. It is necessary to put a person on a horizontal surface on his back, carefully place his head, put a roller under his neck.
  4. Remove the remains of wet clothing from the victim, try to restore the disturbed heat transfer (if possible, warm the patient).
  5. Clean the nose and mouth of an unconscious person, be sure to stretch out the tongue, thereby avoiding aggravation of an asthma attack.
  6. Implement one of the methods of artificial respiration - "mouth to mouth" and "mouth to nose" (if you can open the victim's jaw when drowning).
  7. It is important to carry out resuscitation measures for drowning with skill, otherwise a person can only be harmed, aggravate his condition.

Rescue of a man on the water

The rescue of a person takes place in two successive stages: a quick extraction from the water and assistance to a drowning person already on the shore. In the first case, it is necessary to pull the victim out of the reservoir as soon as possible and not drown himself. Therefore, it is very important to adhere to such activities:

  1. When drowning, it is necessary to swim up to the person from behind and grab him so that he reflexively does not cling to his savior. Otherwise, two people may die at once.
  2. It is best to grab the hair and pull. This is the most convenient way, which is not very painful for the victim, but practical for the savior in order to quickly move through the water towards the shore. In addition, you can comfortably grab your hand just above the elbow.
  3. If the drowning victim still grabbed his savior at the reflex level, you should not push him away and resist. It is necessary to draw as much air into the lungs as possible and dive deep, then he reflexively opens his fingers and increases the chances of his salvation.
  4. If the patient has already gone under water, it is required to dive, grab the hair or hands, and then raise it to the surface of the water. The head should be elevated to avoid further entry of excess water into the lungs and systemic circulation.
  5. It is supposed to drag a drowning person through the water only face up so that he does not choke on water even more. Thus, it turns out to significantly increase the chances of the unfortunate to be saved already on the shore of the reservoir.
  6. Before first aid is given to a drowning person, it is necessary to assess the features of the reservoir - fresh or salt water. This is very important for the implementation of further actions of the rescuer.
  7. Put the patient on his stomach, provide first aid, depending on the specific type of drowning (wet or dry).

First aid for dry drowning

This type of drowning is also called asphyxial, pale. Progressive spasm of the glottis prevents water from entering the airways. All further pathological processes of the body are more associated with the onset of shock and asthma attacks, in the absence of the first resuscitation measures, they can cost the victim his life. In general, the clinical outcome is more favorable than with wet fatigue. The sequence of actions of the rescuer is as follows (only 6 minutes are available):

  1. First aid for drowning begins with the release of the tongue so that the person does not suffocate.
  2. Next, clean the nasal and oral cavities (sand, mud, silt can accumulate in those).
  3. Turn the patient face down to expel water from the lungs, be sure to check for a pulse and signs of respiratory function.
  4. Lay on your back so that your head is thrown back, for example, place a roll of folded clothes under your neck.
  5. Perform respiratory resuscitation, and for this, perform artificial respiration "through the mouth to the nose" or "mouth to mouth".

It is necessary to talk in more detail about the technique of performing mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration with simultaneous chest compressions. So, lay the person on his back, free from wet squeezing clothes, tilt his head back (the chin should rise) and pinch his nose. Perform two blows into the mouth, then place one palm on top of the second on the chest. Keeping your limbs straight, press down on your sternum up to 15 times in 10 seconds. Then again inhale air through the mouth. In a minute, do 72 manipulations - 12 exhalations, 60 pressures.

If the person regains consciousness and coughs, quickly turn their head to the side. Otherwise, he may again choke on the water leaving his lungs. When performing such complex measures to save the life of a drowning person, the participation of two people is necessary. First aid for drowning with vigilant pulse control is required until the person regains consciousness or undeniable signs of death appear, such as complete cardiac arrest, cadaveric skin spots, and symptoms of rigor mortis.


When wet drowning

In this case, we are talking about true drowning (also called "blue" asphyxia), when even with first aid, the chances of salvation are small. The main symptoms are cyanosis of the skin, reflex cardiac arrest (with syncopal drowning), cold sweat, the presence of white or pink foam from the mouth, clinical death, the absence of a pulse and signs of breathing. It is required to act in the following sequence:

  1. Pull the victim ashore by grasping the arm, hair, head or other part of the body.
  2. Then put it on your stomach and thoroughly clean your mouth, nasal cavity from the accumulation of sand and silt.
  3. Raise the patient and by pressing on the root of the tongue forcefully provoke a gag reflex.
  4. Induce vomiting until the remaining fluid has passed from the lungs, stomach and systemic circulation. Additionally, you can pat the drowned man on the back.
  5. After turning over on its side, bend its knees, let it clear its throat after experiencing hypoxia of brain cells. The skin gradually acquires a natural color.
  6. If the gag reflex does not appear, turn the drowned person on his back, carry out resuscitation measures involving the technique of artificial respiration and chest compressions in several approaches.


Medical Precautions

If you want to save the life of another person, it is important not to ruin your own out of ignorance. Therefore, it is necessary to swim up to the drowned man so that he does not drown his savior in fear. When moving towards the shore, one will have to act with one hand, since the other limb keeps the patient unconscious or in a state of shock. Other rescuer precautions that are relevant to the topic: First Aid for Drowning are listed below:
  1. It is necessary to quickly remove wet and squeezing clothing, otherwise the clinical picture is noticeably complicated, while the patient's chances of salvation are reduced.
  2. Termination of first aid is possible in three cases: if an ambulance arrived in time, when the drowned man came to his senses and coughed, if the signs of death are obvious.
  3. Do not be surprised at the appearance of foam from the oral cavity. When drowning in sea water, it is white (fluffy), in drowned freshwater bodies it is mixed with blood.
  4. If a child is injured, the rescuer must turn him face down, leaning on the thigh of his own leg.
  5. If it was possible to unclench the patient's jaw, artificial respiration can be performed using the "mouth-nose" method.
  6. During chest compression (pressure), both hands should be placed on the chest at a point that is located two fingers above the lower end of the sternum.
  7. Hands during resuscitation should remain straight, the weight of the body is transferred to them. Pressing on the sternum is allowed only with the soft part of the palm.

Video

No one is immune from accidents, so you must always be ready to help. This article will describe in detail all the necessary actions that need to be done to successfully rescue a person drowning in a pond.

The first actions at the sight of a drowning man

  1. When you see a drowning person, the first thing to do is to notify specialized rescuers about this.
  2. If possible, throw a life buoy, an air mattress, etc. to a drowning person.
  3. In the event that a decision is made to swim to the drowning man himself, you should take off your outer clothing as much as possible, since it will only interfere.

How to swim up to a drowning man

  1. You need to swim up to a drowning person only from behind, because a person who is drowning is in a stressful situation and practically does not control himself. He can grab hold of his rescuer with no small force and pull him to the bottom;
  2. If it is not possible to swim up invisible to the drowning man, you need to dive a couple of meters before him and, having swum up to the drowning man, grab him. Thus, the victim will not be able to harm himself or his rescuer.


Capturing and transporting a drowning person

Methods of transportation depend only on the condition of the person who is drowning.

If a drowning person remains relatively calm, can control his body and obey the advice of the person who saves him, then he can be delivered to land using this method: you need to swim on your stomach with a breaststroke, and the drowning person should hold on to the rescuer’s shoulder behind, while lying on the water and helping the rescuer to move forward with small jerks with his feet.

If the person who is drowning is in shock or panic and does not understand what is being said to him, then it is better to use the following types of transportation:

  1. Turn the person around and pull him to you, firmly grabbing him by the armpits or chin. Swim with your feet on your back or on your side in this position.
  2. Turn the person with his back and grab him by the armpits or head, swim with a breaststroke on his side in this position.
  3. Turn the rescued person on his back, grab him by the armpit with one hand and, grabbing his forearm on the other side, swim on his side, rowing with an unoccupied arm and legs. This is the most difficult type of transportation and is used only when the drowning person is very scared.
  4. If a person is already submerged to the bottom of the reservoir, then you will need to dive and swim along the bottom, where the victim may presumably be.
  5. Having found a drowning person, it is necessary to grab his armpits or hands, then, with force, push off from the bottom, and emerge to the surface of the water, working as quickly as possible with his legs and an unoccupied hand.


Having emerged, you should turn the person with his back to you and, without delaying a minute more, swim with him to the nearest shore:

  1. If a drowning person is at the bottom of the reservoir facing the bottom, then you need to swim up to him from the side of the legs.
  2. If he is at the bottom face up, then you need to get to him from the side of the head.

Techniques with which you can effectively free yourself from the uncontrolled grips of a person drowning in a pond

  1. If a drowning person makes grips that are unsafe for the rescuer, then you need to take in air and dive into the depths with him. In such circumstances, the drowning person will still try to stay at the top of the reservoir and let his rescuer go. But if such a technique does not work, then it is necessary to immediately apply other techniques so that you yourself do not go under water and lose your balance.
  2. When grasping the leg, you need to grab the head of the drowning person with one hand and the chin with the other. By quickly turning the head of the drowning man to the side and to the side in this way, he will be released from the grip. If this helps, then you need to push off with the uncaptured leg.
  3. When capturing the neck area from behind, you need to take the victim by the hand. With your palm, support the elbow of the drowning person's hand and, quickly raising his elbow up, and the hand, turning down, will be released from such a grip. After that, the victim's hand does not need to be released, but continue to turn him with his back to you.

Providing first aid to a drowning person

First aid to the rescued, who is already on land, must be provided depending on the degree of complexity of his condition. The first thing to check is the presence of breathing and pulse. If these indicators are normal and he is conscious, then the victim should be placed on a flat area so that the level of the head was slightly below the pelvis. Then you should free him from all wet clothes, wrap him in a blanket and call the doctors. It is also allowed to drink a person with warm tea.

If a person is unconscious even after extracting the fluid, but breathes rhythmically and has a clear pulse, then you need to act in this way:

  1. Raise the head of the rescued up and move his lower jaw.
  2. Put your head a little below the level of the pelvis and, using your own index finger wrapped in a handkerchief, clear the mouth of dirt, algae, vomit residue and other contaminants.
  3. Bring the rescued to consciousness, using alcohol for ammonia.
  4. Find a doctor.


If the rescued person has no breath, no pulse, and he is unconscious and senseless, then this is the most dangerous condition that can result in the death of a person. In order to prevent a fatal outcome under such circumstances, and to act correctly, you must first determine the type of drowning, a characteristic feature of which is the skin color of the drowning person.

There are two of them:

  1. "White".
  2. "Blue".

If a person has a white skin color, then this is “white” or “false” drowning. Breathing in these drowned people is interrupted due to spasm of the glottis under the influence of a reflex when liquid enters it. This drowning is easier to manage and the chances of survival are much higher.

If cyanotic or skin with purple spots or overflows, swelling (especially in the area of ​​the lips and cheeks) is observed in a drowned person, then this is most likely a “blue” or “real” drowning. Breathing in such drowned people stops due to the infusion of fluid first into the lungs and then into the blood, which immediately contributes to the complete shutdown of the heart. A characteristic feature of this drowning is also very swollen veins and abundant foam from the mouth.

The action plan with the help of these people looks like this:

  1. Establishing a good openness of the airways. To do this, you need to clean your mouth from all kinds of contaminants that prevent the normal passage of air (grass, algae, silt, and others). But it often happens that the jaws of a drowning man in a spasm are strongly compressed, and in order to open his mouth, you need to use the following methods:
    • A teaspoon is inserted between the jaws of the rescued into the zone of molars, after which the jaws are opened.
    • With the help of four fingers inserted into the zone of molars, it is also possible to open the jaws.
    • In order to prevent re-closing of the jaws of a person, you need to put some non-dangerous object between them (a handkerchief, a knot from a handkerchief, etc.). After completing the task of opening the mouth of a drowning person, you need to turn his head to one side and, with the index finger wrapped in a handkerchief, clean the oral cavity, nose and nasopharynx from all contaminants.
  2. Then remove the incoming fluid from the lungs of the victim of drowning. To do this, a person is turned on his stomach and placed on the knee of his half-bent leg so that his head is slightly below the level of the pelvis. Then, with the help of the hands, the lower region of the chest of the victim is compressed. This procedure should be done no longer than 15 seconds, after which you should proceed to perform artificial respiration.


Artificial respiration and indirect heart massage are done in combination, so they are carried out almost simultaneously with the victim in the following order:

  1. The victim is placed on a hard surface, since on a soft surface during heart massage there is a risk of liver damage. Remove the belt and free the chest from excess clothing with buttons, fasteners, etc.
  2. The rescuer places his hand palm down on the lower part of the victim's chest so that the axis of the wrist joint is the same as the long axis of the sternum. The rescuer folds the other hand on the outer area of ​​the first hand. In this case, all fingers on both hands should be slightly raised so that they do not come into contact with the chest during the massage. A different position of the hands is unacceptable, since it can be dangerous for the victim.
  3. Then the rescuing person leans towards the victim and, with clasped hands, sharply presses on his chest. In this case, it is necessary that the pressure is not in the left zone of the chest, but in the middle (in the sternum). The pressing force should be no more than 50 kg, so this massage should be desired not so much due to the strength of the hands, but due to its own body weight.
  4. After a short press on the chest, you need to release it so that the heart can relax after such pressure.
  5. The pace of heart massage for adults is 65-70 shocks every 60 seconds. Children under 7 years old should be massaged with only one hand, and infants with two fingers (index and middle) with a frequency of up to 100-110 pushes in 60 seconds.

After each session of chest compressions, artificial respiration should be performed.

It is done in this way:

  1. The head of a drowning person is thrown back up.
  2. The rescuer draws air into his lungs and slightly delays exhalation, after which he closes both nostrils of the victim (so that the air cannot escape from them) and tightly clamps the area of ​​\u200b\u200bhis mouth with his lips.
  3. The rescuer then takes a quick breath into the victim's airway.
  4. After the inhalation is completed, the rescuer moves away from the person.
  5. In the intervals before the next breath, the rescuer needs to take a couple of normal breaths for himself. After that, the process of conducting artificial respiration is repeated again.

The frequency of breaths that a person needs to take during his urgent resuscitation:

  1. Adults need to inhale air at least 12-16 times every 60 seconds.
  2. Children 25-30 times every 60 seconds.
  3. Small children - 40 breaths every 60 seconds in small portions into the nose and mouth.

How to prevent drowning

To prevent misfortune, you need to remember the following:

  1. If, while swimming in a pond, you realize that you have not calculated your strength and are starting to sink, then, first of all, you need to try to relax and lie on your back, and then call someone for help.
  2. Children should not be allowed to bathe independently without adult supervision.
  3. You can not dive upside down in unfamiliar waters, not knowing the supposed depth and bottom.
  4. Do not swim while intoxicated or immediately after eating.
  5. It is not recommended to swim near bridges, cliffs, underwater pits, etc.
  6. You can not enter the reservoir after a long stay in the sun, as well as in a very tired state.


  1. You should not rush to the aid of a drowning person yourself if you are a poor swimmer or simply unsure of your abilities.
  2. During transportation of the victim, it should be ensured that his mouth and nose are constantly above the water level - this will protect the person from additional infusion of liquid.
  3. With artificial respiration, a lot of air enters the human stomach and bloating occurs, which can delay the recovery of consciousness, so you need to periodically press a little on the pancreas of the victim in order to free him from excess air.
  4. It is impossible to simultaneously press on the chest and blow air to a person. This should be done alternately: 5 presses and one breath.

Today I want to continue the theme of summer holidays, but with a focus on water.

Of course, I would like the essence of the article to be as easy as its beginning, but, unfortunately, this will not work out here. Because the sun is getting hotter. Water in the sea and other bodies of water is warming up. The number of picnics is increasing. The degree in the body of many people rises, and sanity often fades into the background. The result is drowning. Moreover, as statistics and news reports show, people, despite all the warnings and other preventive measures, still continue to drown. The reason in most cases is heat, alcohol, water - a cramp, loss of consciousness ...

Our mind can replace the three dots of the previous paragraph with “drowned man”, but I want to replace them with “saved person”, who next time will be more conscious about his own safety on the water.

Let's look, dear readers, how we can help in a situation where a person begins to drown and needs the help of another person. Moreover, after pulling a person out of the water, it is also necessary to provide him with first aid. So…

Help a drowning man. What to do?

If you saw a drowning person, no matter how trite it sounds, you must:

1. Pull a person out of the water;
2. Call an ambulance;
3. Provide him with first aid.

These 3 points, if done correctly and quickly, are actually the key to a successful conclusion to the situation. Delays are not allowed!

1. Pulling a drowning person out of the water

A drowning person in most cases panics, does not hear words, and does not understand what is happening. He grabs for everything that is possible and this becomes dangerous for the person who wants to save him.

If a person is conscious

To pull a person out of the water, if he is conscious, throw him a floating object - an inflatable ball, a board, a rope, etc., so that he can grab onto it and calm down. Thus, you can safely pull it out.

If the person is unconscious or weak:

1. While still on the shore, get as close as possible to the drowning person. Be sure to take off your shoes, excess clothing (or at least heavy ones), turn out your pockets. Jump into the water and approach the drowning man.

2. If a person has already gone under water, dive after him and try to see him or feel him.

3. When you find a person, turn him over on his back. If a drowning person starts grabbing you, quickly get rid of his grip:

- if a drowning person grabbed you by the neck or torso, then grab him by the lower back with one hand, and push his head away with the other hand, resting on his chin;
- if you grabbed a hand, then twist it and pull it out of the hands of a drowning man.

If such methods do not help to get rid of the grip, then take air into your lungs and dive, the drowning person will change the grip, and you will be able to free yourself from it at this time.

Try to act calmly and do not show cruelty to a drowning person.

4. Transport the drowning person to the shore. There are several methods for this:

- Being behind, clasp your chin with your palms on both sides and row towards the shore with your feet;
- put your left hand under the arm of the left hand of the drowning person, at the same time, grab with your left hand also the wrist of his right hand, row with your feet and with one hand;
- take the victim by the hair with your hand and put his head on your forearm, row with your feet and with one hand.

2. First aid to a drowning person (First aid)

When you pulled the victim ashore, urgently call an ambulance and immediately begin to provide him with first aid.

1. Get on one knee next to the injured person. Lay him on your knee, belly down, and open his mouth. At the same time, press with your hands on his back so that the water that he swallowed flows out of him. The victim may appear and - this is normal.

If the person is semi-conscious and is vomiting, do not let him lie on his back or he may choke on the vomit. If necessary, help remove vomit, mud, or other substances that interfere with normal breathing from his mouth.

2. Lay the victim on their back and remove any excess clothing. Put something under his head so that it is a little elevated. To do this, you can use his own clothes, twisted into a roller or your knees.

3. If a person does not breathe for 1-2 minutes, it can be fatal.

Signs of cardiac arrest are: lack of pulse, breathing, dilated pupils.

If these signs are present, immediately begin to take resuscitation measures - do "mouth to mouth" and.

Draw air into your lungs, pinch the victim's nose, bring your mouth close to the victim's mouth and exhale. It is necessary to do 1 exhalation in 4 seconds (15 exhalations per minute).

Place your palms on top of each other on the victim's chest between his nipples. In the pauses between exhalations (during artificial respiration), do 4 rhythmic pressures. Press on the chest quite hard - so that the sternum moves down by about 4-5 cm, but no more, so as not to aggravate the situation and additionally harm the person.

If the affected person is elderly, then the pressure should be gentle. If the injured child, then press not with the palm of your hand, but with your fingers.

Give artificial respiration and chest compressions until the person is awake. Don't give up and don't give up. There were cases when a person came to his senses even after an hour of such measures.

It is most convenient to resuscitate together, so that one would do artificial respiration, and the second.

4. After breathing is restored, before the ambulance arrives, lay the person on their side so that they lie stably, cover and warm them.

If an ambulance cannot arrive, but there is a car, follow all the above points in the car while driving to the nearest medical facility.

May the Lord keep us all, dear readers, from such situations.

Help a drowning man - video

The salvation of a drowning person is the work of the drowning person himself. This expression is true in many areas of life, but not in a literal sense. A person can do a lot to prevent on the water, but when he becomes this very "drowning", he will not help himself much.

What to do if you see a drowning person? At this point, it is important to urgently take measures to save him. Indeed, in order for a person to drown, it takes only a few minutes. It is extremely important to assess the situation as soon as possible and choose the best method of providing assistance. In such a situation, one must remember that the reward for the actions taken can be human life.

Assessing the situation correctly

To begin with, it is important to understand that not every drowning person will call for help and flounder violently in the water. Spasms of the vocal apparatus, interruptions in breathing and panic can prevent a person in trouble from making any sounds to attract the attention of potential rescuers.

The fact that a person needs outside help can be indicated by his stay in one place, periodic diving under water and a traceable panic in the movements and facial expressions. If you are not sure that someone is really drowning, try to call out to him or draw the attention of others. When confirming this assumption, it is necessary to remember what actions are performed when saving a drowning person.

Determine the method of salvation

Throwing yourself into the water to help a drowning person is a noble deed, but not always justified. This should not be the first thing that comes to your mind in such a situation, especially if you are not a very experienced swimmer. Better take the following steps:

  1. Get others to help.
  2. Determine whether it is necessary to jump into the water to save the drowning person, or whether assistance can be provided from the shore, boat or pier.
  3. Look for items that can help in the rescue.

We help without diving into the water: option number 1

If the distance and the condition of the drowning person allow, you can grab his hand. To ensure a reliable grip, it is necessary to loudly and clearly explain to the drowning person that he needs to grab your arm as tightly as possible. Try to speak in a calm but confident voice so as not to increase the panic of the one you are saving.

In order not to be in the water, take a prone position, spread your arms and legs wide, and ask someone to hold you. Never assist while standing or crouching. Do everything possible so that saving a drowning person does not become a fight with death for you too.

We help without diving into the water: option number 2

If it is impossible to reach the victim with your hand, take an oar or a rescue pole, look for a strong stick, branch or other durable object nearby and, holding it out to the drowning person, explain that he should grab it tightly. If a person tired of the struggle for life does not have the strength to hold on to something, you still have to jump into the water and help him (an option is acceptable if there are at least two rescuers).

We help without diving into the water: option number 3

Any non-sinking object at hand can do an excellent job when a drowning person is rescued. A piece of foam, wood or even a plastic bottle will help to keep such a person on the water. If possible, tie a rope to whatever you'll be using. With its help, it will be much easier to pull the victim out of the water.

However, when throwing an object intended for rescue into the water, be careful not to hit a person. Try to calculate the throw so that the object is carried to the drowning person by the current. If the victim is weak and cannot hold on to the object thrown to him, it is necessary to swim up to him and help him do this.

When and who should sail to the rescue

What to do if you notice a drowning person far from the shore, pier, boat or pool edge? In this case, the ways to save a drowning person are not so diverse. If you are an excellent swimmer and have good physical shape and stamina, you can safely rush into the water. But it would be better to ask someone to swim with you for insurance.

If you are not sure that you are able to cope with the task, it is not worth the risk. The best thing you can do in such a situation is to call for help. If you are in a public place, there is probably at least one person in your environment who can help and knows how to do it. While the rescue is being organized, call an ambulance.

We swim to the drowning

Trying to save a drowning person in panic can be in a rather dangerous situation. Fighting for life, he may not behave quite adequately. The state of shock he is in may prompt him to take actions that threaten the life of his savior, and, accordingly, his own. It is possible that a drowning person will grab onto the one who is helping him, interfering with the freedom of his movements and plunging both under water.

In view of such a danger, it is better to swim up to a drowning person from behind in order to remain unnoticed by him until the last. If the action takes place on the river, dive into the water in the place where the current will help you swim to the drowning person. If possible, take a life buoy or other object with you, grabbing it, you can stay on the surface of the water. Do not jump into the water in your clothes, as its weight after getting wet will complicate your movement, and it will be easier for a drowning person to cling to you.

We transport a drowning person

The rules for rescuing a drowning person also apply to further movement along the water with him. The tactics of behavior here depend on his condition. If he is calm and adequate, you can easily transport him after he has a firm grip on your shoulders.

If a person in a panic randomly grabs you, first try to relax and dive with him under water. Then, when he releases you and rushes to the surface, you will have a chance to properly grab him. The ideal grip option is to place a hand that is comfortable for you under the arm of a drowning person from the back and grab his opposite shoulder. In this case, you will have to swim sideways, using one free hand.

If a person behaves calmly, he can be transported in other ways. For example, while lying with your back on the water, you can hold his chin above the water with one or both hands. If you hold your chin with one hand, you can use the other for rowing.

Another option is to put your strong hand under the same hand of the drowning person and use it to support his chin. You can hold the drowning man from behind by the hand lying on his chest and passing through the armpit of the second hand. The situation will tell you the option with which it is better to rescue a drowning person.

Rescuing a drowning man in winter

The algorithm for rescuing a drowning man under whom ice has fallen is completely different. It is important here, without wasting a minute, to call rescuers and an ambulance. While they get to the scene of the accident, you can gently help the victim out of the icy water. To do this, it is necessary to arm yourself with a stick, belt, scarf or other object, the second end of which can be grabbed by the victim.

Get to the victim should be from the side of the thickest ice. This should be done only by crawling, arms and legs wide apart. When he can grab the edge of the object you are using, move back gently, in smooth movements, dragging him along with you. Getting on the ice to the shore, try not to approach each other, crawl slowly, avoiding sudden movements.

We provide first aid

If during a stay in the water a person managed to choke on it, which vomiting, loss of consciousness and a bluish complexion can tell, once in a safe place, you should first of all help him clear his lungs and stomach. For this, the victim, lying face down, needs to be thrown over his leg bent at the knee and put pressure on the interscapular space.

Another important action on which the salvation of a drowning person depends is the normalization of his breathing. Sometimes for this it is enough to open his mouth wide and pull his tongue. If he cannot breathe due to spasm, there is a need for artificial respiration. You may also need a heart massage.

After that, try to calm and warm the victim as soon as possible. To reduce heat loss, you need to quickly remove wet clothes from him, massage his limbs, rub his body with a dry cloth (you can use alcohol) and wrap him in warm, dry clothes. This is especially important if a drowning person is rescued in winter. In this case, if there are no dry things, it is necessary to squeeze out the wet ones, moisten them well with alcohol and put them on the victim again. This will create a warm compress. Another option is to wrap it on top with plastic wrap.

Unfortunately, in life there were often situations when, in an attempt to pull someone out of the water, the rescuer himself lost his life. This almost always happens because the basic rules for rescuing a drowning person are known to a very small percentage of the population. While, armed with this vital information, you can accomplish a feat and stay alive at the same time.

An accident is understood, as a result of which liquid enters the human respiratory tract, which can subsequently lead to oxygen starvation. Rendering first aid to a drowning person is the key to saving a life.

Kinds

There are several types of drowning, which are divided according to the characteristics of the symptoms:

  1. True or primary. It is characterized by the ingress of fluid into the stomach and lungs. In turn, the true - is represented by drowning in fresh water and sea water. In the first case, liquefaction and an increase in blood volume occur, resulting in the destruction of blood substances. Drowning in sea water is accompanied by an increased concentration of metal ions in the blood, which is caused by a high salt content in the sea water area. The lungs, on the other hand, undergo significant deformation and destruction of the integrity of tissues, which causes swelling of the mentioned respiratory organs. Water that enters the bloodstream in large quantities provokes the appearance of a bluish tint to the skin. Also, true drowning is accompanied by pink foamy secretions that come out through the oral and nasal cavities. In this case, breathing is characterized by bubbling sounds.
  2. Asphyctic. This type is caused by the absence of water entering the respiratory organs, since a spasm of the glottis occurs. In this case, the greatest danger is a state of shock and subsequent suffocation.
  3. Syncope. Occurs if a person accidentally fell into ice water. Such drowning is dangerous by stopping the work of the heart organ and the breathing process.
  4. Secondary. It is the result of a heart attack or an epileptic attack that suddenly occurred during drowning. Water enters the lungs after the onset of clinical death.

Symptoms

Contrary to popular belief, it is quite difficult to recognize a drowning person, since outwardly his holding on the water looks completely ordinary. However, this "calm" behavior is due to the inability to call for help, the reason for which is impaired breathing. A critically small amount of time above the water is only enough for a drowning person to inhale. However, there are a number of distinguishing features, thanks to which it still becomes possible to recognize a drowning person:

  • the head is located in the rear direction, while the mouth remains open. Also, the head can be completely covered with water, and the mouth can be located at the very surface of the water;
  • eyes closed or hidden under hair;
  • the look becomes "glassy";
  • drowning people take frequent breaths, which is caused by the desire to capture more air;
  • unsuccessful attempts to swim or change body position.

First aid

The sequence of actions when rescuing a drowning person is conditionally divided into three main stages:

1. Actions in the water

Providing first aid to the victim begins with pulling him to land. This process is special, since it is he who determines the further state of the drowned. So, in order to safely transport the victim to the shore, it is necessary:

  1. Approach the drowning person from behind, and then grab him in a way that is safe for himself so that the drowning person is not able to cling to clothes or any parts of the body. The most acceptable and versatile option is "towing" the victim by the hair. Of course, this method is justified with a sufficient length of hair. In this way, you can quickly and easily get to the shore.
  2. If the drowning man still managed to cling, you must dive into the water with him. In the water space, the victim will instinctively open his hands.

2. Operations on land

After the drowning person is successfully brought to shore, the second stage of first aid begins, the sequence of actions of which is as follows:

  1. The upper respiratory tract is freed from foreign and foreign objects and substances, which can be represented by mud, dentures, vomit.
  2. The victim is placed on his knee with his stomach, while the face should be lowered down. Thus, excess liquid flows out.
  3. Two fingers are inserted into the victim's oral cavity, with which they press on the root of the tongue. Thanks to these actions, a gag reflex is provoked, along with which excess water is removed, and the breathing process is also restored. Next comes the cough.
  4. In the absence of a gag reflex, the victim rolls onto his back, and is done.

It is important to remember that in the presence of an asphyctic type of drowning, resuscitation should be carried out immediately, and the stage of provoking vomiting should be skipped.

3. Actions after first aid measures

After the successful start of the breathing process, an equally important number of measures should be taken to further restore the condition of the victim:

  • lay it on its side;
  • cover with a dry towel;
  • call an ambulance;
  • constantly monitor the condition of the rescued. In the event of another respiratory arrest, resuscitation should be resumed.

Precautionary measures

In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, it is useful to adhere to the following rules in the process of swimming in deep waters:

  1. Refuse to enter the water area while intoxicated.
  2. Do not dive in unfamiliar and suspicious areas.
  3. Swim away from watercraft, as well as from their course.
  4. When using air mattresses, circles and other water devices, deep and distant swims should be abandoned.
  5. Children should be under the constant supervision of adults and be at a close distance from the shore.