American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-08-10
To Resuscitate the brow ned.

THE following rules for the resuscita-
ton of drowned persons have recently
been adopted by the Sanitary Committee
of the Board of Health of Chicago.
Matchmaker that the 7odtient must be
treated instantly and on the spot where res
cued. He must be freely exposed to the
open air, and all persons not needed for
saving him should avoid crowding about
him.
2d-Io clear tie mouth and track to tie
uHgs: On the recovery from the water,
instantly cut or rip all clothing free from
about the waist, stretch the body on the
ground on its face, its right wrist beneath
its forehead, and a large, hard roll of
clothing beneath the pit of the stomach.
Enwrap your right foretinger and thumb
with your pocket handkerchief, with
which to mop out the mouth, seize the
tongue and hold it out while an
assistant presses with all his weight
for ghalf a minute upon that part
of the back over the roll of clothing.
This position gives complete drainage
from the stomach and chest to the mouth.
The pressure forces out accumulations in
the stomach and throat, and so clears the
track for the air to reach the lungs. This,
so far, is but one step preparatory to ar
titicial breathing, and should not occupy
over one minute.
31-IHe position Of the body for artificial
bre0thing: Quickly turn the body upon
its back, with its arms beside the head
and the hard roll of clothing placed be-
meath the ribs, so as to throw the pit of
the stomach as rominently forward as
possible. The tongue, must be kept held
out, as before, during all the steps until
recovery.
4h-THe position Of tie operator: Kneel
astride the body, facing its head. Place
the palms of your hands upon the most
prominent part of the ribs, just below the
pit of the stomach, so that your fingers fit
into the grooves between the short ribs,
! and the fore or lower part of the chest.
At the same time keep your elbows
against your sides.
5h Tile motions Of the operator: Now,
using your knee as a pivot, throw your
whole weight forward, and, at the same
time grasp the waist, squeezing its sides
together and upwards, as if you wanted
to force the contents of the chest out of
the mouth. Let this motion occupy you
while you count zone, two, three" then
suddenly let go; count one more, which
is four-that allows time enough for the
ribs to spring back into place. Then he
gin again, repeating the motions as be-
fore, to the time of one, two, three, four,
making each set of motions about ten or
| fifteen times a minute. This is the entire
process of artificial breathing, and it must
never be forgotten that this is the first
| and chief, If not the only reliance. In this
| way you make the body breathe until it
is able to take breath for itself.
| 6H-IThat else as to be done, and arltat Is
| not to be dane, sc'tile the nnorenents are being
made: If help and blankets are at hand,
have the body stripped and wrapped in
blankets, but do not allow the movements
| to be stopped. Bystanders can supply
| dry clothing. Apply hartshorn or II feather
within the nostrils occasionally, and fore
| IDLY sprinkle or lightly dash cold water
upon the face and neck. The legs and
| feet may be rubbed and wrapped in wet
blankets, if blue or cold, or if the wealth
er is cold.
1th-WAat to do arhen tie patient begins ID
BREATHE: Give brandy, diluted, by the tea
| spoonful, coffee, or any other stimulant
that is most convenient, or hot sling two
| or three times minute, until the beating
of the pulse can be felt at the wrist; but
| be careful of the stimulant-give no more
than is necessary Warmth should be
kept in the feet and legs, and as soon as
the patient breathes naturally let him be
carefully removed to a house and placed
in bed under medical care. If there is
help enough at hand when the patient is
taken from the water, or afterward, lei
the nearest physician be called, but le
there be no aoaiting for a physician. Do al
once the best that can be, methodically
and deliberately, strictly according to the
foregoing rules, and in the order in which
| they are numbered.