Drowning: What you need to know

Drowning is the condition of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion in liquid, in most cases, water.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Children, teenagers, and anyone with access to water (especially large bodies of water) are at risk of drowning.

During drowning, water enters the lungs, making it difficult for air to go in or out of the body and this causes a lack of oxygen. This is an emergency condition that needs urgent intervention to prevent loss of life, therefore it is important to know how to save a drowning person and be ready to help.

Fatal drowning: This is when drowning results in death.

Non-fatal drowning: This is when an individual survives drowning but may have a range of outcomes, ranging from no injuries to serious injuries.

Causes/Risk factors.

– Lack of barriers around pools.

– Drug and alcohol intoxication.

– Seizures, heart conditions, or other health issues.

– Lack of swimming skills.

– Water conditions such as high waves.

– Boat accidents.

– Children.

It is important to note that a child can drown in as little as one inch of water.

Drowning usually progresses in stages;

1. Struggle to keep the airway clear of the water.

2. Initial submersion and breath-holding.

3. Water infiltrates into the lungs.

4. Unconsciousness.

5. Cardiac and respiratory arrest.

6. Death from drowning.

Signs of drowning.

Most drowning persons may be unable to call for help as they may be submerged in water.

– Difficult breathing.

– Pale or bluish skin.

– Confusion.

– Disorientation.

– Loss of Consciousness.

– Abnormal heartbeat.

– Vomiting.

– Abdominal swelling and pain.

– Coughing.

– Cold.

First aid tips to help a drowning person.

Step 1:

Call for help immediately:

– If there is a Lifeguard around the water, call their attention. If not, do not go into the water unless you are a skillful swimmer. Grab the person by the waist from behind and swim with them out.

– Remove the victim from the water as quickly and safely as possible.

– Support the neck and head in case they bump their head.

Step 2:

Check for breathing

– Place your ear next to the person’s nose and mouth to see if you will feel air on your cheek.

– Check to see if the person’s chest is moving.

– Remove tight clothes if any.

– If the person is breathing, make them lie on one side throw a cloth over them to prevent cold, and take them to the hospital for further care.

Step 3:

Check for a heartbeat if there is no breathing:

– Place your ear on the left side of the chest, directly below the nipple to hear the heartbeat.

Step 4:

If there is no heartbeat, start resuscitation:

For Adults:

– Make them lie on their back.

– Tilt their heads slightly backward and lift their chin.

– Place the heel of one hand at the center of the chest, towards the nipple line.

– Place your second hand on the other and interlock your fingers.

– Press down firmly about 2 inches. Make sure not to press the ribs.

– Do chest compressions only at a rate of 100-120 per minute and allow the chest to rise between pushes.

– Check to see if the person starts breathing.

– Continue till the person starts breathing, you get to the hospital, or emergency medical assistance gets to you.

– If you are a trained first aider, you can give rescue breaths.

For children:

– Carefully place the child on their back.

– Tilt the head slightly backward and lift the chin.

– With an older child, pinch the nose close and put your mouth over the child’s mouth, forming a tight seal. With an infant, place your mouth over both the baby’s nose and mouth.

– Blow into the child’s mouth for 1 second. You should see their chest rise.

– Repeat the breath a second time.

Begin chest compression:

– For an older child, place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest at the nipple line. For an infant, place two fingers on the breastbone.

– Gently press down. Make sure not to press on the ribs or the end of the breastbone.

– Do chest compressions at the rate of 100-120 per minute. Let the chest rise completely between pushes.

– Check to see if the child has started breathing.

– Continue till the child starts breathing, you get to the hospital, or emergency medical assistance gets to you.

When the person starts breathing, you can cover up with clothes to reduce coldness.

Diagnosis/Treatment.

Further tests like chest x-ray and heart monitoring tests may be done to ascertain the severity of the condition.

Treatment is usually to regulate normal oxygen levels by administering oxygen and removing water from the lungs.

Procedures to promote heart function are carried out in cases where there was a cardiac arrest as a result of drowning.

Complications.

– Brain injury.

– Coma.

– Cardiac arrest.

– Death.

Prevention.

– Avoid alcohol consumption, especially around water bodies.

– Check water conditions example water waves and currents before swimming.

– Provide barrier-like fences around home pools.

– Wear life jackets and use floaters during water activities.

– Learn swimming skills.

– Ensure that children are carefully supervised around water (including water drums, bathtubs, and small poodles).

– Learn Basic life support skills.