What to do when helping people drown & bull; hello healthy

When someone drowns, it is unlikely that the incident will look as horrendous as we often see in movies: screaming for help, swaying, making splashes of water as hard as possible to try to stay above the surface of the water. When completely submerged, they would not be able to make any sound so they could easily be swallowed up by the water scroll without noticing by the people around them.

Although accidents related to drowning usually occur in public places, such as beaches and swimming pools, a toddler can drown in 5 centimeters of water - enough to drown his mouth and nose - whether in a bathtub, sink, or even a toilet if he falls in. position head first.

What to do when helping someone drown?

1. Get help

If you are at the pool or beach when you notice someone drowning, shout out loud to alert the lifeguard or people closest to you, and call the police immediately (110) or an emergency ambulance (118).

If you are alone trying to help someone drown, if it is safe and possible, try to reach the victim. Use a long stick, rope, swim tube, or any other object nearby that can help you to draw the victim to land.

But remember: if circumstances require you to swim closer, make sure you can really swim and that your energy is strong enough to swim while carrying the victim back to land. To be on the safe side, take a life jacket with you.

Calmly approach the victim from the back. Grasp the victim's shirt, or the support under the victim's neck, so that it stays above the surface of the water as long as you pull it ashore. When pulling it out of the water, keep its neck and head supported for head and neck injuries.

2. Check vital signs

Lay the victim in a safe place and flat on his back. Remove wet clothing and cover the victim as soon as possible with warm clothes or blankets.

Raise the head slightly upwards, but if you suspect a neck and / or head injury, only open the jaw and don't raise the head.

Bring your ear close to the victim's mouth and nose. Do you feel any air blowing? Also pay attention to whether the chest moves up and down to indicate that the victim is still breathing. If the person is not breathing, check the pulse for 10 seconds.

Give them five breaths before starting CPR. How:

• Pinch the person's nose and place your lips, in a closed position, over their mouth.
• Take a normal breath and blow slowly (1-2 seconds at a time) into his mouth. When dealing with a child under one year of age, just clench your lips and exhale without needing to pinch the nose.

Check whether the victim's chest is rising and falling, before starting to give the next breath.

If the victim vomits, tilt his head and dispose of the contents of his mouth to prevent choking.

3. Start CPR

If when lifted ashore, the person is no longer responsive and is not breathing, begin CPR immediately.

CPR for adult victims and children over 1 year of age:

• Place the bottom of the wrist of one of your hands in the center of the victim's chest, between the nipple lines. You can also place your other hand on it.
• Press it down about 5 centimeters. Make sure not to press on the ribs.
• Perform 30 chest compressions, at a rate of 100 compressions per minute or more. Allow the chest to rise completely between the presses.
• Check if the person has started breathing.

CPR for children under 1 year:

• Place two fingers on the sternum.
• Press down 1-2 centimeters deep. Make sure not to press the ends of the sternum.
• Perform 30 chest compressions, at a rate of 100 compressions per minute or more. Allow the chest to fully rise between the presses.
• Check to see if the child has started breathing.

After receiving CPR, the victim must immediately get medical assistance (contact 118) continue to check for complications of organ damage.

If the victim is still not breathing, do two short breaths and then 30 chest compressions. Repeat this cycle until the person starts breathing or medical help arrives.

Note: the above instructions are not intended to be a substitute for official CPR training that you can get through the Indonesian Red Cross or other official health care institutions.

4. Don't leave the victim

When the victim is conscious and conditions allow, carry him to a warm, dry place. You can give him warm drinks or energy foods, such as chocolate drinks or hot cereal when he is able to swallow. However, do not immerse the victim in warm water or massage him if he is shivering. Just keep the body warm and dry by adding a blanket or warm clothes.

Continue to accompany and check vital signs, breathing, and how well the drowning responds until medical help arrives.