ABC of First Aid: How the Right Reaction Saves Lives in Drowning Accidents
If you become a first responder in a drowning accident, experts say the most important thing is to first call emergency services and only then help the person out of the water. As with all emergencies, the so-called ABCDE rule applies here as well, according to Barbara Sinner, Director of the University Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck, on Wednesday. However, self-protection always comes first.
ABCDE Rule Can Save Lives - With the Correct Order
The ABCDE rule is applied as soon as the person is safely brought ashore. A (Airway) stands for clearing the airways, B for Breathing - here it is checked whether the patient is breathing. At C (Circulation), it is checked whether the person has a pulse. If no pulse is present, resuscitation must be started immediately - two breaths, thirty chest compressions. Under D (Disability), it can be understood in this context that the person has circulation but is unconscious. Then the person is placed in the recovery position. E (Exposure) means that wet and cold clothing should be removed to prevent excessive cooling. In the ABCDE rule, the order is important, especially the first three steps are essential.
18 People Have Already Drowned in Austria This Year - Risk-Taking Youth Particularly at Risk
This year, according to the Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV), 18 people have already drowned in Austria. On average, there are between 22 and 47 drowning accidents annually.
According to Sinner, drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death in children after traffic accidents. It also plays a significant role whether parents can swim themselves or not - children whose parents cannot swim are more often victims of drowning. The risk group also includes - especially male - teenagers and young adults between 15 and 19 years, as they are often more risk-taking and overestimate their swimming abilities. Drugs and alcohol also play a role in this group. People over 65 years are also more at risk than the average. In swimming accidents, they often have a cardiovascular or neurological condition.
Death by Drowning Can Happen in Different Ways
In one type of drowning, the water is not swallowed but inhaled, said Sinner. This leads to a lack of oxygen and the drowning person becomes unconscious. After four to six minutes, cardiac arrest occurs, and after eight to ten minutes, brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
Especially in summer, it is very common for people to enter cold water too quickly. By activating the sympathetic nervous system (part of the nervous system, note) and releasing catecholamines, this can lead to a strong increase in blood pressure, but above all to an increase in heart rate. Especially in risk groups, a possible heart rhythm disorder can trigger a heart attack.
Through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the startle reaction, some people also hyperventilate. This leads to muscle rigidity and a panic reaction, causing the person to try to gasp for air underwater, allowing water to enter the lungs, according to Sinner.
Showering Before Swimming Can Save Lives
For everyone, the body should not be cooled abruptly but should be slowly accustomed to the water temperature beforehand, for example by showering or slowly wading into the water. Sinner also emphasized that children always need supervision. There should always be a supervisor nearby, and for toddlers, she recommended a maximum distance of an arm's length. They most often drown in the bathtub or paddling pool. Since the head of children at this age makes up about 25 percent of their body weight, they are unable to lift it up.
One should not swim while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Additionally, one should not be alone in open waters so that help can be provided quickly in an emergency.
(APA/Red)
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