Drowning
Drowning is preventable yet over 400 lives are lost to drowning across the UK and Ireland, every year. Babies and small children mostly drown at home in the bath or in the garden, in just a few centimetres of water. The majority of the time it’s completely silent. They can’t shout for help or control their arms. They slip quietly under the water. The best way to prevent drowning is to supervise babies and children whenever water is involved.
Prevention
- Avoid putting yourself in danger. Do not risk your own life if it’s too dangerous
- It’s common from casualties who have drowned to have stomach regurgitation, be prepared to roll them quickly onto their side to clear their airway
- Call 999/112 even if the casualty appears to have recovered
Treatment
- Perform a primary survey. Check levels of response, open airway and check breathing
- If casualty is not breathing shout for help and ensure 999/112 is called, request AED
- Give 5 initial rescue breaths followed by 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths. Continue ratio of 30:2 until help arrives, the casualty becomes responsive (coughing, opening eyes, speaking or controlled movement) or you are too exhausted to continue.
- Attach an AED of available
- If the casualty starts to breath normally be prepared to treat for hypothermia