APPARENTLY DROWNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 January 1928, Page 11

APPARENTLY DROWNED

RESTORATION METHOD. Commenting in a letter upon a drowning accident in the Yarra at Richmond, Victoria, when a boy aged 10 years lost his life, the secretary of the Royal Life-Saving Soqiety (Mr A. P. Newey) said recently that the accident showed the necessity for knowledge by the public of the Schafer method of resuscitation of the apparently drowned. According to reports the boy, although in the water for about 20 minutes, was still alive when he was being taken to the hospital. If one of the bystanders, of whom there were many, had been able to practise the Schafer method, the boy’s life might have been saved. When the boy reached the hospital he was probably beyond aid. Mr Newey briefly described the Schafer method of resuscitation, and suggested that the treatment should be learnt by The treatment may be applied to persons apparently drowned, poisoned by gas, or suffering from electric shock. The method may be outlined as follows: — 1. —Send for a doctor.

2. —Lay the patient face downward, head lower than feet if possible, with the head on its side and towards the wind, the upper arms in line with the shoulders, and the forearms at right angles to the upper arms. 3. —Without raising the head, cleai’ the mouth of any obstruction to the free access of air to the lungs. 4. —Kneel alongside the patient, with your knee and foot touching his leg, and, spreading out the fingers, place the hand over the small of the back, little finger on the lowest rib and, steadily swinging the weight of the body forward until the arms are vertical, press out the air that is in the lungs. The swing forward and the retention of pressure should take about two seconds. Smartly release the pressure by swinging the weight of the body backwards without removing the hands and remain so for another two seconds. Continue this movement at tl|e rate of 12 to 15 times a minute until breathing is restored, ft may be necessary to continue the resuscitation method for several hours relays of operators being used, before natural breathing occurs, and operators should not be discouraged if success does not attend their efforts in a few minutes. Life has been restored after four or five hours of artificial breathing. 5. —When breathing has been restored, but not before, the body should be rubbed to promote warmth and the circulation of blood. Rubbing should always be towards the heart, the inner sides of the limbs receiving special attention. After this the patient should be put to bed, kept quiet and given plenty of fresh air.' He should be watched for some, .tifhe in case of a relapse, when the m'ethod should again be brought into Operation. 6. —ln no circumstances should any liquid be administered to the unconscious person. When breathing and consciousness have been restored, a warm drink may be given wjth a spoon. Except by the express direction of a doctor, no alcoholic stimulant should be administered to an apparently drowned person or to, one poisoned by gas or suffering from shock by electricity.