APPARENTLY DROWNED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 December 1933, Page 12

APPARENTLY DROWNED

RESUSCITATION (Contributed by the Department of Health) In the act of breathing the oxygon from the air is absorbed from the lungs into the blood vessels and purifies the blood. At the same- time the impure matters picked up by the blood in circulating through the body are filtered out by the lungs, thus the whole object is to supply oxygon to the various tissues and to remove the products of oxidation that are’taking place. When a person is under water he can Hold his breath for a short time keeping out the water. Then he swallows some water into the stomach and as his strength fails water enters the lungs. The water in the stomach may do no particular harm but that in the lungs is of vital importance because it stops breathing, causes poisoning of the system and lack of purification of the blood and if allowed to remain for any length of time produces stoppage of the heart and death. The indications therefore in one apparently drowned, are to remove the water from the lungs to make the patient breathe arid to stimulate the weak heart. The following instructions should be followed to achieve this purpose: “Don’t waste time—immediately after removal from the water, try to clear fluid from the patient’s lungs by turning him face and head downwards, so that it may run out of his mouth or nose.

Open mouth and clear it of any weeds or foreign matter. Draw the tongue forward. Loosen or remove all clothing round his chest, waist and throat, but no time should be lost in doing so. If he begins to breathe, take off the wet clothing and wrap him in any dry clothing or blankets, ltub briskly and move the limbs to promote circulation of t.he blood. To Artificially Restore Breathing : —lf breathing does not quickly commence, do as follows, and send for a doctor: —■ Turn patient on his front, with .the arms extended. Turn his face to one side. Kneel astride, or to one side, facing his head. Place your hands on the small of his back,- one on each side, with the thumbs parallel and nearly touching. Bend forward, to bring your weight to bear on your wrists; make steady, firm, downward pressure thus, while you count, slowly, one, two. Bend backward to ease the pressure, while you again count, slowly, one, two. Continue this pressing and easing, counting, one, two, for each movement until patient begins to breathe.

Meanwhile send assistance to nearest bouse for blankets or hot bottles to apply to limbs and over region of heart, or get assistant to remove patient’s clothing, rub limbs, and do whatever else is advised herein. Do not give up trying this method of performing artificial breathing until a doctor arrives, or for an hour or even more.