Drowning

Drowning is the major cause of accidental death in the United States. Victims who die of drowning can die within about 5 minutes of the accident because they have stopped breathing.

1. Get the victim out of the water at once. Unless you are trained in water rescue, always throw something to the victim and tow them in. Row out to them if a launch is available and they are far from the edge, again throw something toward the victim. Only as a last resort should the rescuer swim to a drowning victim. A drowning victim will use the rescuer's head as an "island" and will desperately try to climb on top of the rescuer. If making a swimming approach, the rescuer should take a deep dive under the victim while still beyond reach, come up from behind, place the hand of the upper arm under the victim's chin, then using the rescue mode side stroke, pull the victim to shallow water then out to the shore.
   
   
   1. Turn the victim face down. Allow only a few seconds for water to drain from the lungs.
      
      
   2. If the victim coughs and sputters and starts breathing without assistance he or she will get rid of the remaining water. You need only standby to see that recovery continues.
      
      
   3. But, if a victim is not breathing after allowing a few seconds for water to drain from the lungs, turn the victim over onto his or her back and start mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing immediately.
      
      
   4. Have someone else go for help. Do not leave the victim alone under any circumstances...not even to call for help!

Note: Keep giving rescue breathing until the victim can breathe unassisted. That can take an hour or two. Pace yourself. Keep calm.

Remember: Even when the victim is breathing unassisted he or she may be in need of medical attention. Get professional help at once.