Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
The goal of home care is to safely rescue the victim and begin first aid.
In a drowning emergency, the sooner rescue and first aid is administered, the greater chance the victim has of surviving. Do not endanger yourself during this process.
Rescue options to reach the drowning victim in the water
Throw a rope with a buoyant object to the victim.
Use a long stick to reach the victim.
Bring a canoe alongside the victim and tow the victim to shore. Do not haul the victim into the boat because it may cause the boat to capsize, and both of you will be in the water. Cold water may
render the victim too hypothermic to grasp objects within their reach or to
hold on to while being pulled to safety.
As a last resort, you can attempt a swimming rescue if you are sufficiently trained in water rescue. Do not attempt a rescue beyond your capabilities. Otherwise, you may harm yourself.
For a swimming rescue, approach the person from
behind while trying to calm the victim as you move closer. A panicked
victim can pull you down.
Grab a piece of clothing or cup a hand or arm under the victim's chin and pull the person face up to shore while providing special care to ensure a straight head-neck-back alignment especially if you think the person has spine injuries.
The best option would be to float the victim on a board while towing to shore.
Rescue options for someone who has fallen through the ice
Do not walk on the ice to rescue someone.
Instead, throw a rope or offer a long stick to pull the victim out and across on the ice onto the person's belly to distribute
the weight as evenly as possible.
Avoid having the victim try to climb on the ice
edge because it results in more ice breaking.
If the victim is unconscious, tie a
rope around your waist, secure the other end, and slide out on the ice on
your belly to reach the victim.
Another technique is to form a human chain with everyone lying down to reach the victim.
First aid for a drowning victim
The focus of the first aid for a drowning
victim in the water is to get oxygen into the lungs without aggravating any
suspected neck injury.
If the victim's breathing has stopped, begin
mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing as soon as you safely can. This could mean
starting the breathing process in the water.
Follow the American Heart Association guidelines if the victim isn't breathing. If other persons are available, send somebody to call 911 and another to get an
automatic external defibrillator (AED).
Begin rescue breathing as soon as you safely can. This could mean starting the breathing process in the water.
Continue to breathe for the person every five seconds
while moving the victim to the shore.
Chest compressions
in the water are difficult to do without a flat surface that does not give
way and are reserved until such a surface is available.
Once on shore, reassess the victim's breathing and circulation (heartbeat and pulse). If there is breathing and circulation without suspected spine injury, place the person in recovery position (lying on the side, arms extended at the shoulder level and bent, head on the side with the leg on the same side drawn up at a right angle to the torso) to keep the airway clear and to help prevent aspiration should vomiting occur.
Keep the person warm by removing wet clothing and covering with warm blankets to prevent
hypothermia.
Remain with the recovering person until emergency medical personnel have arrived.
