Helping a drowning person is your direct responsibility. In order for the help to be effective, it is not enough to be able to swim, you should also know a number of rescue techniques.

SWIMMING TO THE DRINING

Swim up to the drowning one quickly, however, calculating your strength. Tired, tired, you are unlikely to be able to bring real help.

Swim up behind, thereby depriving the drowning person of the opportunity to grab your hands or head. Only very good swimmers can ignore this rule.

Strive first of all to raise the head of the victim above the surface of the water, making it easier for the drowning person to breathe. Having received air, the drowning person ceases to make convulsive movements, which only make it difficult to save him.

If a drowning person grabs your arms, legs, or head, take steps to free yourself immediately.

When grabbing one of your hands, twist your hand sharply against his thumb and jerk towards you.

If your hand is caught by the two hands of a drowning man, proceed as shown here.

In case of capture of both your hands, turn them against the thumbs of the drowning person and at the same time pull your hands towards you.

Before you release, inhale the air and go into the water with your whole body.

The drawings show the basic techniques for releasing from the grip for both hands from behind, for the torso in front and behind.

Under all circumstances, push the casualty up.

If you get tired and want to take a break, do not float away from it on the surface, but leave by diving underwater.

Your task is to deliver the drowned man to the shore as soon as possible.

CAPTURE AND TRANSPORTATION OF A DROWNING PERSON

Turn the drowning man with his back to you, put your palms on the lower jaw, fingers on the chin of the drowning man, without closing his mouth. Straighten your arms. Lie on your back and, moving breaststroke, swim to the nearest shore. Keep the face of the drowning person on the surface at all times.

Another position is also suitable. Turn the victim slightly to the side. Pass your hand over the armpit of the drowning man's upper arm. Grab the hand or forearm of the other hand of the drowning person with the same hand. Turn yourself on your side. Vigorously working with your arm and legs, swim to the shore using the sideways method.

WHAT TO DO ON LAND

In case of loss of consciousness drowning immediately upon arrival on the shore, apply artificial respiration.

Artificial respiration is performed by compressions of the victim's chest at regular intervals 15-16 times per minute.

Contracting and expanding, it performs the same movements as during normal breathing. Swimming 100 meters freestyle is considered excellent if the distance is covered in less than 2 minutes 10 seconds, and good - with a time of 2 minutes 10 seconds - 2 minutes 25 seconds.

Swimming in gear is considered excellent if you swim 40 meters, and good if you swim 30 meters.

The long dive is considered excellent at 12 meters and good at 10 meters.

Swimming at a distance of 400 meters is given up after a thorough study of different styles.

It is to the fulfillment of these standards, to the maximum reduction in the time of swimming of any distance, that you should strive.

Each swimming lesson should be strictly regulated, since the load experienced by the body, without habit, is very large. The swimming lesson lasts approximately 45 minutes and consists of exercises on land (10 minutes), input (30 minutes) and exercises to gradually reduce the load after classes in the water - gymnastics (5 minutes).

For non-swimmers, it is best to practice in a group. Under the guidance of an instructor, you will learn the work of hands and feet on land, using a bench or board for this.

Gradually, classes must be transferred to the water, to a shallow place, no deeper than 1.4 - 1.5 meters. One can highly recommend studying the work of the legs in the crawl and breaststroke method, holding hands at the side or sitting on the side of the pool.

When learning to swim in the freestyle, standing on the bottom, start by working with one hand. Later you will move on to mastering the work with two hands. The next stage is the work of one hand in connection with the breath and, finally, the work of the hands and the breath.

It is very good if you have auxiliary equipment at your disposal: circles, belts, etc. They will support you on the water, give you the opportunity to focus all your attention on the correct operation of the arms, legs, and respiratory apparatus.

Still, do not get carried away with excessive auxiliary shells. As soon as you feel confident enough, get rid of belts, circles, no matter how good they are.

Content

Resting by a pond is not always pleasant. Incorrect behavior in water or emergency situations can lead to drowning. Young children are especially susceptible to this risk, but even adults who know how to swim well can become victims of strong currents, cramps, whirlpools. The sooner the victim is removed from the water, and he will be given first aid for drowning (removal of fluid from the respiratory tract), the higher the chance to save a person's life.

What is drowning

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines drowning as a respiratory disorder caused by immersion or prolonged exposure to water. As a result, respiratory failure, asphyxia may occur. If first aid to a drowning person was not provided on time, death occurs. How long can a person go without air? The brain is able to function for only 5-6 minutes during hypoxia, so you need to act very quickly, without waiting for the ambulance.

There are several reasons for this situation, but not all of them are random. Sometimes the wrong behavior of a person on the surface of the water leads to undesirable consequences. Key factors include:

• injuries from diving in shallow water, in unexplored places;
• alcohol intoxication;
• emergencies (convulsions, heart attack, diabetic or hypoglycemic coma, stroke);
• inability to swim;
• neglect of the child (when children drown);
• falling into whirlpools, storm.

Signs of drowning

The symptoms of drowning are easy to spot. The victim begins to flounder, or swallows air like a fish. Often a person spends all his energy to keep his head above water and breathe, so he cannot scream for help. Spasm of the vocal cords may also occur. A drowning man is seized by panic, he is lost, which reduces his chances of self-rescue. When the victim has already been pulled out of the water, the fact that he was drowning can be determined by the following symptoms:

• bloating;
• chest pain;
• blue or bluish tint of the skin;
• cough;
• shortness of breath or shortness of breath;
• vomiting.

Types of drowning

There are several types of drowning, each of which is characterized by its own characteristics. These include:

1. "Dry" (asphyxic) drowning. A person dives under water and loses orientation. Often there is a spasm of the larynx, water fills the stomach. The upper airways are blocked, and the drowning person begins to suffocate. Asphyxia sets in.
2. "Wet" (true). Plunging into the water, a person does not lose the respiratory instinct. The lungs and bronchi are filled with fluid, foam may be released from the mouth, cyanosis of the skin is manifested.
3. Fainting (syncope). Another name is pale drowning. The skin acquires a characteristic white, white-gray, bluish color. Death occurs as a result of a reflex cessation of the work of the lungs and heart. Often this happens due to a temperature difference (when a drowning person plunges into ice water), hitting the surface. There is a faint, loss of consciousness, arrhythmia, epilepsy, heart attack, clinical death.

Rescue of a drowning man

Anyone can notice the victim, but it is important to provide first aid in a short time, because someone's life depends on it. Being on the shore, the first thing to do is to call the rescuer for help. The specialist knows exactly what to do. If he is not around, you can try to pull the person out yourself, but you need to remember the danger. The drowning person is in a stressful state, his coordination is impaired, so he can involuntarily cling to the rescuer, not allowing him to grab himself. There is a high probability of drowning together (with improper behavior in the water).

First aid for drowning

When an accident occurs, you need to act quickly. If there was no professional rescuer or medical worker nearby, then first aid for drowning should be provided by others. The following steps should be followed:

1. Wrap your finger with a soft cloth, clean the rescued person's mouth with it.
2. If there is fluid in the lungs, you need to put a person on his knee with his stomach down, lower his head, make several blows between the shoulder blades.
3. If necessary, make artificial respiration, heart massage. It is very important not to press too hard on the chest, so as not to break the ribs.
4. When a person woke up, you should free him from wet clothes, wrap him in a towel, let him warm up.

The difference between sea and fresh water when drowning

An accident can occur in various water sources (sea, river, pool), but drowning in fresh water is different from immersion in a salty environment. What is the difference? Inhalation of sea fluid is not as dangerous and has a more favorable prognosis. The high concentration of salt prevents water from entering the lung tissue. However, the blood thickens, putting pressure on the circulatory system. Within 8-10 minutes, a complete cardiac arrest occurs, but during this time it is possible to resuscitate a drowning person.

As for drowning in fresh water, the process is more complicated. When fluid enters the lung cells, they swell and some of the cells burst. Fresh water can be absorbed into the blood, making it more fluid. Capillaries rupture, which disrupts cardiac activity. There is ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest. This whole process takes a few minutes, so death in fresh water occurs much faster.

First aid on the water

A specially trained person should be involved in rescuing a drowning person. However, it is not always nearby, or several people can drown in the water. Any vacationer who knows how to swim well can provide first aid. To save someone's life, you should use the following algorithm:

1. It is necessary to gradually approach the victim from behind, dive and cover the solar plexus, taking the drowning person by the right hand.
2. Swim to the shore on your back, row with your right hand.
3. It is important to ensure that the head of the victim is above the water and that he does not swallow the liquid.
4. On the shore, you should put a person on his stomach, provide first aid.

First aid rules

The desire to help a drowning person is not always beneficial. Misbehavior by an outsider often only exacerbates the problem. For this reason, first aid for drowning must be competent. What is the mechanism of PMP:

1. After the person has been pulled out of the water and covered with a blanket, symptoms of hypothermia (hypothermia) should be checked.
2. Call an ambulance.
3. Avoid deforming the spine or neck, do not cause injury.
4. Fix the cervical region by placing a folded towel.
5. If the victim is not breathing, start artificial respiration, heart massage

With true drowning

In about 70 percent of cases, water enters directly into the lungs, resulting in true or "wet" drowning. This can happen to a child, or to a person who cannot swim. First aid for drowning includes the following steps:

• palpation of the pulse, examination of the pupils;
• warming the victim;
• maintaining blood circulation (raising legs, tilting the torso);
• ventilation of the lungs with the help of breathing apparatus;
• if the person is not breathing, artificial respiration should be given.

With asphyxia drowning

Dry drowning is somewhat atypical. The water never reaches the lungs, but instead the vocal cords spasm. Death can occur due to hypoxia. How to provide first aid to a person in this case:

• perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately;
• call an ambulance;
• when the victim came to his senses, warm him.

Artificial respiration and cardiac massage

In most cases, drowning stops a person from breathing. To bring him back to life, you should immediately begin active steps: perform a heart massage, perform artificial respiration. You need to follow a clear sequence of actions. How to do mouth-to-mouth breathing:

1. It is necessary to part the lips of the victim, remove mucus, algae with a finger wrapped in a cloth. Allow liquid to drain from the mouth.
2. Grab your cheeks so that your mouth does not close, tilt your head back, raise your chin.
3. Pinch the nose of the rescued, inhale the air directly into his mouth. The process takes a fraction of a second. Number of repetitions: 12 times per minute.
4. Check the pulse in the neck.
5. After a while, the chest will rise (the lungs will begin to function).

Mouth-to-mouth breathing is often accompanied by heart massage. This procedure must be done very carefully so as not to damage the fins. How to proceed:

1. Position the patient on a flat surface (floor, sand, earth).
2. Put one hand on the chest, cover with the other hand at an angle of about 90 degrees.
3. Rhythmically apply pressure to the body (approximately one pressure per second).
4. To start the baby's heart, press on the chest with 2 fingers (due to the baby's small height and weight).
5. If there are two rescuers, artificial respiration and cardiac massage are performed simultaneously. If there is only one rescuer, then every 30 seconds you need to alternate these two processes.

Actions after first aid

Even if a person comes to his senses, this does not mean that he does not need medical attention. You should stay with the victim, call an ambulance or seek medical help. It is worth knowing that when drowning in fresh water, death can occur even after a few hours (secondary drowning), so you should keep the situation under control. With a long stay without consciousness and oxygen, the following problems may occur:

• disorders of the brain, internal organs;
• neuralgia;
• pneumonia;
• chemical imbalance in the body;
• permanent vegetative state.

To avoid complications, you should take care of your health as soon as possible. The rescued from drowning should observe the following precautions:

• learn to swim;
• avoid swimming while intoxicated;
• do not go into too cold water;

Discuss

Rules for rescuing and providing emergency first aid to a drowning person - an algorithm for resuscitation

Drowning can occur during sea and river disasters, when an aircraft falls into the water, or during natural disasters. But in everyday life, most of all it happens when swimming in unfamiliar bodies of water, jumping into water, skating on thin ice or fishing on it. Unintentional drowning can occur even in a puddle, in shallow water, in a bathtub. In these cases, our help, as a rule, is especially needed.

Death from drowning due to lack of oxygen in the body usually occurs within 2-3 minutes, provided that the victim had a healthy heart. However, there are cases of instant cardiac arrest; this, as a rule, occurs under the influence of a sudden action of cold during a rapid jump into water or a small amount of water entering the upper respiratory tract, and the heart first of all reacts to these factors. When drowning, a large amount of water also plays a role, penetrating from the lungs into the blood and significantly disturbing the chemical balance of the body.

Low water temperature under certain conditions of the body (tendency to antispasms, allergy to cold, etc.) causes spasm of the vessels of the skin and lungs, prolonged contraction of the respiratory muscles, which leads to acute respiratory and cardiac disorders.

But there are also many accidents in sun-warmed water. The risk factors are the high speed of the current, the presence of whirlpools, key sources that dramatically change the water temperature in a limited area, storms, the possibility of collision with floating equipment, etc. A significant reduction in the risk of drowning, not only in normal, but also in extreme conditions, is facilitated by the development of strong-willed qualities and hardening of the body. But the main thing is to try not to lose your composure in the water.

Often people drown not only because of the loss of self-control, but also because of the onset of a fainting state, that is, loss of consciousness. Fainting can occur, for example, due to the fact that on a hot day a person overheated under the sun rapidly plunges into water, as a result of which either a spasm of the brain occurs, or an outflow of blood from the brain, or both. Fainting can also occur due to the overflow of the stomach with abundant and dense food, when, in the process of digestion, blood flows from the central nervous system into the gastrointestinal tract. The cause of fainting can also be fear during an accidental fall into the water.

There are two types of drowning: true and "dry" - caused by a sudden stop of breathing and heart.

When drowning, two phases of death are distinguished: clinical and biological. Drowned, even when quickly removed from the water, in appearance resembles a dead one. However, he should be considered apparently dead, in a phase of clinical death, and therefore immediate measures must be taken to revive him.

First aid for a drowned man

The nature of the provision of emergency care to the victim depends on the severity of his condition. If a person is conscious, he needs to be reassured, take off his wet clothes, wipe his skin dry, change clothes; if consciousness is absent, but the pulse and breathing are preserved, the victim should be allowed to inhale ammonia (in extreme cases, cologne or other pungent-smelling liquid, up to gasoline). Then release from tight clothing, especially the neck and chest. To activate breathing, you can use the rhythmic twitching of the tongue.

Here's something else to keep in mind. Pulling a drowning man ashore, look at the color of his face. If it is white, and there is foam on the lips and nose, then his lungs are full of water. Of course, it must be removed as soon as possible. To do this, put your patient on a bent leg so that his head and torso are down, and your hip is pressing under his lower ribs. After that, press on the back until all the water has flowed out. And then you can already do artificial respiration, and an indirect heart massage.

If the face is bluish, then it is necessary first of all to clean the oral cavity of mucus and other dirt that has got there with a handkerchief or a clean cloth wound around a finger. Sometimes a sharp short blow to the back is enough.

At the end of the procedure (and you should try to do it in 15-20 seconds), you can start resuscitation. Place a bundle of clothes or something like that under the victim's shoulder blades so that the head is thrown back as far as possible: this is the only way to open the airways. The tongue is best pulled out by hand. If the jaws are brought together, and the mouth cannot be reached, artificial respiration is done according to the mouth-to-nose method. Perform chest compressions at the same time. In the meantime, you are pumping out a drowned man, let someone call an ambulance. It makes sense to pump out 30-40 minutes.

When saving a drowning person, there is no time to waste, therefore, in some cases, it is possible not to pump out the water. After cleaning the mouth (preliminary measure), it is necessary to immediately begin to carry out artificial respiration. At the same time, every second is precious!

In any condition of the victim, measures are taken to warm the body by rubbing, massaging the upper and lower extremities. All this is desirable to do together.

As soon as the victim resumed breathing, he should be given hot tea to drink, wrapped in a blanket and taken to a medical facility.

➨ In order to avoid accidents, you should follow the rules of behavior on the water: you can not leave children unattended, swim from boats, rafts, swim outside the designated swimming areas, swim before 1.5-2 hours after eating, in a state of intoxication and in state of physical and mental fatigue.

➨ It is dangerous to swim after a strong overheating in the sun, especially for elderly people with diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is extremely dangerous to jump into the water in an unfamiliar place, especially head down.

➨ It is recommended to swim in the evening or in the morning when the sun is not hot. Warming up in the sun before swimming, you are at great risk. With a sharp temperature drop, a reflex contraction of the muscles can occur with a complete cessation of breathing.

➨ Stay in the water is not recommended for more than 10-15 minutes. Do not think that if the air temperature approaches 35 ° C, then you can swim all the time: a long stay in the water causes hypothermia of the body and, as a result, convulsions, which can lead to irreparable trouble.

➨ Do not make stupid jokes while bathing. Favorite joke - dive and pull the legs - a reliable way to send a person to the next world, because it is almost impossible to resist in such a situation, and the respiratory reflex is suppressed. The same applies to immersing the head in water and holding it there until blisters appear. Bubbles may be the last...

It is forbidden to swim or climb on the navigational signs of the navigable situation (buoys, buoys).

Tragedy can happen while swimming in a pond. This happens when a person swims in an alcoholic state or there are convulsions, strong water currents, whirlpools, entanglement in algae, which also threaten the life of even sober adults, not to mention children who are helpless in difficult situations on the water. To prevent death, you need to know the rules of first aid for a drowning person and do everything possible before the arrival of medical staff.

WHO - World Health Organization - classifies drowning as a violation of respiratory functions due to a long stay of a person under water. The victim’s breathing is disturbed and asphyxia sets in, therefore, vacationers who notice the unusual actions of the bather must take action, get the person out of the reservoir and provide assistance, otherwise death will occur. The human brain functions during hypoxia for 6 minutes. And the shutter speed for holding the breath in the average person is 90-250 seconds.

Drowning occurs for various sudden reasons: for example, improper behavior when bathing a person, unsafe for his life. Briefly about the reasons why you should not climb into the water:

1. In unknown places and in shallow water, you can get injured.
2. Any dose of alcohol dulls the alertness of a person while swimming.
3. Sudden stroke, hypoglycemic or diabetic coma, heart attack and convulsions lead to a deplorable outcome.
4. Lack of swimmer skills.
5. Uncontrolled observation of the child, which often occurs after taking alcohol.
6. A storm, a strong current and a whirlpool claimed many lives, so you should not climb into a river or reservoir where there is a threat to life.

Plunging into the water with special equipment, you need to check the scuba gear, hoses. From the neglect of simple rules, many divers, especially beginners, also died.

A drowning swimmer can be identified by floundering, trying to breathe while keeping his head above the water. A victim with a spasm of the vocal cords and a constant cough will not be able to call for help. A person can be considered drowning if the following signs are present:

• belly enlarged;
• pain in the chest;
• the skin acquires a bluish or blue tint;
• coughing;
• shortness of breath;
• vomiting urge.

Panic on the pond is unacceptable. A lot of strength is lost, it is difficult to assess the situation, the time to rescue is reduced. Therefore, we must try to control ourselves until help arrives, or slowly swim to the shore.

Main varieties

There is dry, wet and faint drowning. Each of these types has individual characteristics. You can find out which species overtook a person by the following signs:

1. Asphyxial. If a swimmer diving into a pond cannot navigate underwater, then the upper part of the lungs is blocked, the liquid enters the stomach, and a spasm of the larynx is formed. A person suffocates in a matter of minutes and death occurs. This is dry drowning.
2. True. Often disoriented people who are at depth, due to lack of air, instinctively begin to breathe. Liquid immediately fills the lungs, foam comes out of the mouth, cyanosis forms on the skin. This is the wet type.
3. Syncope. Pale or unconscious drowning is defined by white-gray or pale skin with a blue tint. The heart and lungs stop functioning, death occurs. This happens due to swimming in icy water or when hitting the bottom while jumping into a pond. People lose consciousness, arrhythmia, heart attack and clinical death reflexively appear.

If a person jumped into a pond and he does not float up within 100 seconds, and bubbles come out of the water, then you should immediately rush to help. It is advisable to constantly look after each other on vacation.

Fresh and sea water

Tragic cases occur on rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. However, drowning in salt water is different from fresh water. The sea salt fluid is still blocked in the upper part of the lungs and is not absorbed into the tissue. But blood circulation and pressure are disturbed, and the blood becomes thick. However, a favorable outcome can be achieved, since 10 minutes are allotted for salvation. It is during this time that the heart stops. During this period, a successful resuscitation can be carried out.

It is difficult to save a person when fresh water penetrated into his lungs and filled all the cells that increase in volume and burst. Blood becomes rare, and if the victim has received an open injury, then the plasma will flow for a long time. And cardiac functionality is impaired due to rupture of capillaries. The heart stops due to the formation of ventricular fibrillation. Death occurs within a few minutes.

When the victim behaves inadequately on the water, it is necessary to notify the others and quickly swim to the rescue, taking a couple of vacationers with them. If there are lifeguards on the beach, then they need to shout loudly about the disaster.

It happens that no one wants to go to the rescue and everything will have to be done alone. In such cases, there is a risk of drowning along with the victim. The drowning person will be in a panic, may grab his arms, neck, head and tightly squeeze or try to climb onto the rescuer.

It is necessary to swim up to the person from behind, take the armpit or chin with one hand, but not the neck, and swim back, moving backwards to the shore. If the victim is struggling, then you will have to hit the elbow in the head and calm the panicking person. The rescued person's head must be kept above the water. Then take out the drowning person on the sand, put him on his back and apply the algorithm of rescue actions.

Attention! A drowning person floundering in the water is dangerous and a rescuer trying to help can ruin his own life. In this case, it is better to take a couple of bottles of bottled water with twisted caps, swim up to the victim and let him grab the container. The container perfectly withstands the weight of an adult. So it will be easier and faster to drag the sufferer to the shore.

First aid

Improper rescue of the victim can be fatal, so this should be done by someone who has information about competent assistance to a drowning person. Everyone should know the first aid for a drowning person:

1. If a person has fallen through the ice, then they pull him out and be sure to cover him with a blanket, clothes or other things, since the body temperature must be increased after hypothermia.
2. Immediately call an ambulance and briefly explain the reason. In order for doctors to react quickly, it must be said that a person is dying.
3. The head is raised by placing a folded towel. The victim is unconscious and the body is limp, so you need to turn and lay the victim carefully so as not to damage the spine.
4. In the absence of breathing, immediately begin to massage the heart and artificial respiration.

The rescuer must take into account every second, human life depends on it. In order not to think for a long time how and what to do with a drowned person, you need to learn the rules of first aid: such knowledge will not be superfluous.

Asphyxial and true drowning

Dry drowning is considered rare. Water enters the lungs, but the vocal cords are blocked. Death occurs due to hypoxia. In this case, the person must be pulled out of the water, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, call an ambulance and briefly explain the situation, and cover the victim with warm clothing.

A person chokes on water in 7 out of 10 cases. This is called wet or true drowning. There is a tragedy with both children and adults who cannot swim. The rescuer needs to pull the swimmer out of the water, examine the pupils and check for a pulse. Restore normal circulation by bending the torso or raising and lowering the legs. Perform artificial respiration. It is necessary to achieve that a person coughs and begins to independently release the lungs due to vomiting.

If there are two rescuers, then one must call a medical team at the initial stage of first aid for drowning. In such cases, the phone should always be charged.

It is difficult for an inexperienced person to perform resuscitation, since chest thrusts can be strong, and this will damage the ribs that will pierce the lungs. First aid for drowning - heart massage:

1. Lay the victim on their back with a flat surface underneath.
2. Rest your left hand on the chest, and put your right hand on the first at an angle of 90 degrees.
3. With the same pace, press on the chest. Approximate speed - 1 second for 1 click.
4. Several fingers should be rested on the chest of small children, but the weight of the child is also taken into account.
5. There are more chances of salvation when two people are involved in the procedure. One performs artificial respiration, the other conducts cardiac resuscitation. Rescuers work alternately every half a minute.

Most deaths are due to water blocking the lungs, so you need to learn how to do proper mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. But do not forget that you need to simultaneously engage in heart massage. First aid for a drowning person in stages:

1. Lay the victim on their back. Remove liquid and algae from the mouth with a cloth-wrapped finger.
2. Tilt your head back, raise your chin, open your mouth completely.
3. Close the nostrils with your fingers, inhale the air and exhale strongly into the mouth of the drowned man, do this every second.
4. If a pulse appears on the neck, and the chest rises, then the patient will soon wake up.

If the rescuer alone resuscitates the victim, then artificial respiration and heart massage should be alternated every 30 seconds. When the patient begins to vomit, he is turned on his side.

Control over the victim

If a person woke up, this does not mean that medical intervention is not required. Especially when drowning in a body of fresh water, death can occur after a few hours - this is called secondary drowning. The rescuer must urgently call an ambulance, wait for them and monitor the patient. The following problems that arise when a person is unconscious for a long time:

• neuralgia;
• disruption of the functioning of internal organs and the brain;
• vegetative state;
• chemical imbalance in the body;
• pneumonia.

In order to avoid a terrible tragedy in the company while relaxing by a reservoir or river on a sunny beautiful day, you need to take precautions and not get into the water in an alcoholic state, without swimming skills, do not swim at great depths, in areas of the pond with algae and swim lake.

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 man 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.