The bringing to life of those who are apparently drowned is something
that should be understood by every person, for such emergencies may rise
at any time or place when no professional relief is at hand. There are
astonishing instances of revival after a considerable time has passed,
and it is worth while to persist in the effort most energetically and
constantly for a long time before hope is given up. The following rules
for saving the life of those who are apparently drowned are made up from
various sources, official and otherwise, and may be accepted as
thoroughly reliable.
Whatever method is adopted to produce artificial breathing, the patient
should be stripped to the waist and the clothing should be loosened
below the waist, so that there shall be no restraint on the movement of
the chest and body. Lose no time in beginning. Remove the froth and
mucus from the mouth and nostrils and the mud, too, if any has been
drawn in. Hold the body for a few seconds with the head sloping
downward, so that the water may run out of the lungs and windpipe.
The tip of the tongue must hue drawn forward and out of the mouth, as
otherwise it will fall back into the throat and impede breathing. This
is an important matter, for if it is not done successfully all that
would otherwise be gained by artificial breathing may not be
accomplished. If you are not alone the matter becomes simpler. Let a
bystander grasp the tongue with a dry handkerchief to prevent it
slipping from the fingers, or he may cover his fingers with sand for the
same purpose. If you are alone with the patient draw the tongue well out
and tie it against the lower teeth in this manner: Lay the center of a
dry strip of cloth on the tongue, which is drawn out over the teeth, and
cross it under the chin. Carry the ends around the neck and tie them at
the sides of the neck, which will keep the tongue from slipping back.
You are now ready to begin the actual restoration of life.
If the ground is sloping turn the patient upon the face, the head down
hill; step astride the hips, your face toward the head, lock your
fingers together under the abdomen, raise the body as high as you can
without lifting the forehead from the ground, give the body a smart jerk
to remove the accumulating mucus from the throat and water from the
windpipe; hold the body suspended long enough to slowly count five; then
repeat the jerks two or three times.
The patient being still upon the ground, face down, and maintaining all
the while your position astride the body, grasp the points of the
shoulders by the clothing, or, if the body be naked, thrust your fingers
into the armpits, clasping your thumbs under the points of the
shoulders, and raise the chest as high as you can without lifting the
head quite off the ground and hold it long enough to slowly count three.
Replace the patient slowly upon the ground, with the forehead upon the
bent arm, the neck straightened out, and the mouth and nose free. Place
your elbows against your knees and your hands upon the sides of his
chest over the lower ribs, and press downward and inward with increasing
force long enough to slowly count two. Then suddenly let go, grasp the
shoulders as before, and raise the chest; then press upon the ribs, etc.
These alternate movements should be repeated ten to fifteen times a
minute for an hour at least, unless breathing is restored sooner. Use
the same regularity as in natural breathing.
After breathing has commenced and not before, unless there is a house
very close, get the patient where covering may be obtained, to restore
the animal heat. Wrap in warm blankets, apply bottles of hot water, hot
bricks, etc., to aid in the restoration of heat. Warm the head nearly as
fast as the body, lest convulsions come on. Rubbing the body with warm
cloths or the hand and gently slapping the fleshy parts may assist to
restore warmth and the breathing also.
When the patient can swallow give hot coffee, tea or milk. Give spirits
sparingly, lest they produce depression. Place the patient in a warm
bed, give him plenty of fresh air and keep him quiet.
Another method which is perhaps simpler than the first and equally
effective is as follows:
The water and mucus are supposed to have been removed from the mouth,
and the tongue secured by the means above described. The patient is to
be placed on his back, with a roll made of a coat or a shawl under the
shoulders. The nurse should kneel at the head and grasp the elbows of
the patient and draw them upward until the hands are carried above the
head and kept in this position until one, two, three can be slowly
counted. This movement elevates the ribs, expands the chest and creates
a vacuum in the lungs into which the air rushes, or, in other words, the
movement produces inspiration. The elbows are then slowly carried
downward, placed by the sides and pressed inward against the chest,
thereby diminishing the size of the latter and producing expiration.
These movements should be repeated about fifteen times during each
minute for at least two hours, provided the signs of animation present
themselves.