Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

Drowning 369
MONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) may be necessary when
the person is brought to shore or the pool’s edge.
Follow-through Emergency medical personnel
typically transport cold water drowning victims to
a hospital emergency department or trauma center
even when resuscitative efforts appear unsuccessful
because there is the possibility for revival
when body temperature returns to normal. A doctor
should thoroughly assess a person who survives,
as secondary complications may occur.
See also RESPONDER SAFETY AND PERSONAL PROTEC-
TION; SITE AND SITUATION ASSESSMENT; SYMPTOM ASSESS-
MENT AND CARE TRIAGE; WARM WATER DROWNING.
rescue breathing A method to revive a person
who has stopped BREATHING (RESPIRATORY FAILURE)
but who still has a HEART beat (PULSE). Rescue
breathing may be necessary in drowning, poisoning,
ELECTROCUTION, and other circumstances in
which the respiratory failure occurs suddenly and
the first response is rapid. The BRAIN begins to
experience irreversible damage after about 6 minutes
of oxygen deprivation, so urgent response is
essential.
Site and situation assessment Risks for the first
responder may include the continued presence of
the cause of the person’s respiratory failure, such
as live electricity.
Responder personal protection measures Essential
responder personal protection items include
latex or latex-style gloves and a resuscitation
shield.
First response actions Position the person to lie
flat on his or her back and tilt the head back.
Sometimes this action is sufficient to clear the airway
and the person begins to breathe. Check for a
PULSE (press two fingers against the side of the
neck just beneath the notch at the back of the
lower jaw) and watch and feel for signs of air
movement. When there is also no heart beat,
CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) is necessary.
CPR adds chest compressions to pump the
heart to push BLOOD through the body. If there is a
pulse but no evidence of air movement, begin rescue
breathing:
1. Quickly look (and feel, if wearing latex gloves)
inside the person’s MOUTH for any objects that
could block air from entering the airway (such
as dentures, food, vomitus, or blood).
2. Place a resuscitation shield over the person’s
mouth, pinch the nostrils closed, and breathe
with normal intensity into the shield (or the
person’s mouth) until the chest rises.
3. Give one breath about every five seconds. Pull
away from the shield to allow air to leave the
LUNGS.
4. Continue rescue breathing until the person
resumes breathing independently or emergency
medical personnel arrive and take over.
Follow-through A person who stops breathing
requires urgent evaluation and treatment from a
physician at a hospital emergency department or
trauma center.
See also ANAPHYLAXIS; COLD WATER DROWNING; POI-
SON PREVENTION; RESPONDER SAFETY AND PERSONAL
PROTECTION; SITE AND SITUATION ASSESSMENT; SYMPTOM
ASSESSMENT AND CARE TRIAGE; WARM WATER DROWN-
ING.
warm water drowning Drowning that occurs
when the water temperature is higher than 60ºF.
Most warm water drownings take place in swimming
pools and shallow lakes. The risk for death is
very high when the person has been underwater
longer than three minutes, thus rapid response is
essential. However, there is great risk for the
responder in an attempted rescue when the
responder does not have training in water rescues.
Site and situation assessment Important aspects
of the situation include the type of water (pool,
lake, river), how long the person has been under
water, and whether injuries in addition to drowning
are possible. SPINAL CORD INJURY or head injury is
likely when diving into the water, for example.
Responder personal protection measures Essential
responder personal protection items include
latex or latex-style gloves and a resuscitation
shield.
First response actions When the person is still
in the water and is conscious, the responder
should use items such as ropes, poles, and flotation
devices to attempt to help the person rather
than jumping into the water, unless the responder