Drowning – Causes, Symptoms, First Aid

Drowning – near

“Near drowning” means a person almost died from not being able to breathe (suffocating) underwater.

If a person has been rescued from a near-drowning situation, quick first aid and medical attention are very important.

Considerations

• Thousands of people drown in the United States each year. Most drownings occur within a short distance of safety. Immediate action and first aid can prevent death.
• A person who is drowning usually cannot shout for help. Be alert for signs of drowning.
• Most drownings in children younger than one year occur in the bathtub.
• It may be possible to revive a drowning person even after a long period underwater, especially if the person is young and was in very cold water.
• Suspect an accident if you see someone in the water fully clothed. Watch for uneven swimming motions, which is a sign that the swimmer is getting tired. Often the body sinks, and only the head shows above the water.

Causes

• Attempted suicide
• Blows to the head or seizures while in the water
• Drinking alcohol while boating or swimming
• Falling through thin ice
• Inability to swim or panicking while swimming
• Leaving small children unattended around bathtubs and pools

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary, but may include:

• Abdominal distention  (swollen belly)
• Bluish skin of the face, especially around the lips
• Chest pain?
• Cold skin and pale appearance
• Confusion
• Cough with pink, frothy sputum
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• No breathing
• Restlessness
• Shallow or gasping respirations
• Unconsciousness
• Vomiting?

First Aid

When someone is drowning:

• Do NOT place yourself in danger.
• Do NOT get into the water or go out onto ice unless you are absolutely sure it is safe.
• Extend a long pole or branch to the person or use a throw rope attached to a buoyant object, such as a life ring or life jacket. Toss it to the person, then pull him or her to shore.
• If you are trained in rescuing people, do so immediately only if you are absolutely sure it will not cause you harm.
• Keep in mind that people who have fallen through ice may not be able to grasp objects within their reach or hold on while being pulled to safety.

If the person’s breathing has stopped, begin rescue breathing as soon as you can. This often means starting the breathing process while still in the water.

Continue to breathe for the person every few seconds while moving him or her to dry land. Once on land, give CPR  as needed.

Always use caution when moving a person who is drowning. Assume that the person may have a neck or spine injury, and avoid turning or bending their neck. Keep the head and neck very still during CPR and while moving the person. You can tape the head to a backboard or stretcher, or secure the neck by placing rolled towels or other objects around it.

Follow these additional steps:

• Give first aid for any other serious injuries.
• Keep the person calm and still. Seek medical help right away.
• Remove any cold, wet clothes from the person and cover with something warm, if possible. This will help prevent hypothermia .
• The person may cough and have difficulty breathing once breathing restarts. Reassure the person until you get medical help.

Do Not

Important safety tips:

• Do NOT attempt a swimming rescue yourself unless you are trained in water rescue.
• Do NOT go into rough or turbulent water that may endanger you.
• Do NOT go on the ice to rescue someone if you can reach the person with your arm or an extended object.

The Heimlich maneuver is NOT part of the routine rescue of near drownings. Do NOT perform the Heimlich maneuver unless repeated attempts to position the airway and rescue breathing have failed and you think the person’s airway is blocked. Performing the Heimlich maneuver increases the chances that an unconscious person will vomit and then choke on the vomit.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you cannot rescue the drowning person without putting yourself in danger. If you are trained and able to rescue the person, do so and then call for medical help.

All near-drowning patients should be checked by a doctor. Even though the person may quickly seem OK at the scene, lung complications are common. Fluid and body chemical (electrolyte) imbalances may develop. Other traumatic injuries may be present.

Prevention

Some tips to help prevent near-drowning are:

• Avoid drinking alcohol when swimming or boating.
• Drowning can occur in any container of water. Do not leave any standing water in basins, buckets, ice chests, kiddie pools, or bathtubs or in other areas where a young child can get at it.
• Secure the toilet seat cover with a child safety device.
• Fence around all pools and spas. Secure all the doors leading to the outside, and install pool and door alarms.
• If your child is missing, check the pool immediately.
• Never allow children to swim alone or unsupervised regardless of their ability to swim.
• Never leave children alone for any period of time or let them leave your line of sight around any pool or body of water. Drownings have occurred when parents left “for just a minute” to answer the phone or door.
• Observe water safety rules.
• Take a water safety course.